Building a Strong National Quality Infrastructure: A Strategic Pathway for Nigeria

Nigeria has taken significant steps toward strengthening its National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) with the gazetting of its National Quality Policy (NQP) and the establishment of the National Quality Council (NQC) under the Presidency. These developments mark a strategic move toward enhancing the competitiveness of Nigerian goods and services in both local and international markets. A well-functioning NQI ensures product and service quality, boosts consumer confidence, increases exports, and fosters industrial growth. Without it, Nigerian businesses struggle to meet global standards, limiting their potential for expansion and international trade.

A strong NQI is built on several pillars: standardisation, metrology, accreditation, conformity assessment, testing, inspection, and market surveillance. Recognising this, Nigeria has also established the Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS) to oversee the accreditation of laboratories, ensuring that products and services meet internationally recognised standards. While NiNAS is undergoing a mutual recognition agreement to increase the scope and international recognition for its accreditation scheme, its role in accrediting certification bodies, testing laboratories, and inspection bodies is critical in aligning Nigeria’s quality infrastructure system with global best practices. This will ultimately facilitate trade by increasing the acceptability of inspection and test results from Nigeria, which increases market access to Nigerian products in foreign markets.

In addition to these domestic initiatives, international collaboration is key in strengthening Nigeria’s quality infrastructure. Through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the British High Commission assigned the British Standards Institution the role of implementing the Standards Partnership Programme in Nigeria (SPP). The SPP aims to support NQI institutions in the implementation roll-out of the Nigeria National Quality Policy, identifying implementation gaps and resolving them while aligning Quality Infrastructure operations with international best practices, to foster an end-to-end quality culture within Nigeria’s business ecosystem.

As part of this effort, the programme also provides technical support through training and awareness workshops for public and private sector stakeholders. These capacity-building initiatives are crucial in ensuring the effective implementation of Nigeria’s NQI policy implementation, equipping businesses and regulatory bodies with the knowledge and skills needed to meet appropriate standards.

Despite these positive developments, challenges remain. Regulatory compliance and standards conformance support must be strengthened to ensure end-to-end quality is consistently applied across all goods and services value chains. The proliferation of counterfeit and substandard goods in the market continues to pose risks to consumer safety and economic growth. Addressing this requires a coordinated effort between government agencies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Weights and Measures Department, and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS). Enhanced market surveillance, enhanced compliance support, effective implementation of non-compliance penalties, and increased consumer awareness will be essential in tackling this issue.

Another critical area for improvement is metrology and testing infrastructure. Nigeria must invest in state-of-the-art laboratories and testing facilities to ensure accurate measurements and quality verification across key industries, including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing. Expanding the network of accredited laboratories under NiNAS will provide businesses access to reliable conformity assessment services, further strengthening Nigeria’s export capacity.

Additionally, digital transformation in quality control presents an opportunity to improve efficiency and transparency. Deploying blockchain technology and digital databases to track product authenticity and certification status can enhance trust in Nigerian products. Introducing QR codes on product packaging linked to accreditation records will allow consumers and regulators to easily verify compliance.

A quality-conscious culture must be embedded within Nigeria’s business environment to sustain these efforts. Public awareness campaigns should educate businesses and consumers on quality assurance’s economic and social benefits. Industry leaders should mentor small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on best practices in quality management, while the government can mainstream compliance by making quality certification a requirement for securing public contracts.

With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) opening new export opportunities, Nigeria must leverage its NQI to gain a competitive edge. The ongoing efforts by the National Quality Council, NiNAS, and international partners like the British Standards Institution (BSI) are commendable steps in the right direction. However, sustained government and private sector commitment is necessary to translate policies into tangible economic gains.

A robust NQI will protect consumers, enhance industrial competitiveness, and position Nigeria as a reliable global trade partner. By ensuring that “Made in Nigeria” is synonymous with quality and excellence, the country can unlock new economic opportunities, attract foreign investment, and drive long-term growth. The foundation has been laid—the challenge now is to build upon it and make quality a defining characteristic of Nigeria’s economic landscape.

• Titi Ojo is the National Coordinator for the Standards Partnership Programme (Nigeria). She is also the Executive Secretary for the Network of Practicing Non-oil Exporters of Nigeria (NPNEN). She is a Hubert Humphrey Fellow and a Distinguished Toastmaster.

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