The Nigerian National Accreditation System on Monday secured international recognition, which now allows locally certified products to be accepted in over 140 countries.This development is expected to reduce export rejection and save the economy millions of dollars in foreign exchange.With the new status, certificates issued by NINAS-accredited laboratories, inspection bodies, and certification bodies will now carry globally trusted marks from the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, the International Accreditation Forum, and the African Accreditation Cooperation under its Mutual Recognition Arrangement.Only eight accreditation bodies have attained this level of global acceptance, placing Nigeria among the continent’s quality assurance leaders.
The recognition caps nearly 15 years of reforms under the National Quality Policy and elevates Nigeria’s National Quality Infrastructure to a globally aligned system capable of supporting exporters, MSMEs and manufacturers seeking to access new markets.Speaking at the launch in Abuja, the Director-General of NINAS, Celestine Okanya, said the achievement directly addresses one of Nigeria’s biggest export headaches, massive rejection of goods, especially food products, in Europe and America due to non-recognition of local testing.He said exporters who use NINAS-accredited conformity assessment bodies “can technically achieve zero rejection”, as destination countries will no longer require retesting or impose extra charges.
“With NINAS now internationally recognised, exporters who use accredited laboratories and certification bodies can technically achieve zero rejection, as foreign authorities will accept their certificates without retesting or additional charges.“Nigeria’s upgraded quality system ensures that products and services meet the requirements of both domestic consumers and destination markets.“Any manufacturer using NINAS-accredited labs will receive certificates accepted in more than 140 countries. This removes major barriers stopping Nigerian products from entering Europe, America and Asia,” Okanya said.He added that Nigeria’s new status positions exporters for smoother customs clearance under the AfCFTA and global markets.The United Kingdom, a key supporter of Nigeria’s quality reforms, said the milestone signals that Nigeria is ready to compete globally.The UK’s Director for Trade Policy and Market Access (Africa Region), Hannah Barbosa, said the recognition would reduce technical trade barriers, enhance investor confidence and unlock new market opportunities.“This is more than a celebration. It is a bold statement of intent. With NINAS’ recognition, conformity assessment bodies in Nigeria can now issue certificates accepted globally,” she said.
She cited UK-funded programmes, such as the Standards Partnership Programme, the Developing Countries Trading Scheme Roadshow, and the SheTrades Inward Mission, as key inputs that helped Nigerian firms upgrade their processes.UK Country Director for Nigeria, Mark Smithson, noted that total UK imports from Nigeria currently stand at £2.3bn, driven mostly by commodities.He said NINAS’ status means Nigerian products will move more freely through UK customs, avoiding delays and duplication.
