MorgAnable Politics/Policy
The minister also linked the initiative to ongoing efforts to improve Nigeria’s business environment, arguing that digital reforms are essential for removing bureaucratic bottlenecks that hinder investment and enterprise growth.
kaNo —
The Federal Government has launched a Digital Standards Platform designed to strengthen Nigeria’s quality infrastructure, improve access to industrial standards and enhance the competitiveness of locally manufactured goods.
The initiative, developed through a collaboration between the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the Bureau of Public Procurement and private technology firm Goringo Consult Limited, is expected to transform how businesses, regulators and consumers interact with standards and certification systems across the country.
At the official unveiling in Abuja on Friday, the Minister of State for Industry, John Owan Enoh, described the platform as a landmark reform that would drive industrialisation, improve the ease of doing business and support the Federal Government’s push to prioritise local production.
“Today is not merely the unveiling of a technology solution; it is the opening of a new chapter in Nigeria’s quality journey,” he said. “A chapter in which standards move from the shelf to the screen, and from the screen into the daily life of every Nigerian enterprise.”
He stressed that no country can achieve industrial growth without strong quality standards, noting that standards remain a critical but often overlooked driver of economic prosperity.
“There is an enduring truth that guides nations on the path of industrial greatness: no economy rises above the quality of what it produces. Standards are the silent architecture of prosperity,” the minister added.
Digital Standard Platform Wil Provide Seamless Interaction Between Producers And Markets
The Digital Standards Platform is designed to provide seamless access to Nigerian Industrial Standards, certification services, compliance tools and verification systems.
It will enable manufacturers, businesses, procurement officers and consumers to interact with the country’s quality assurance framework digitally, reducing reliance on manual processes.
A major highlight of the reform is the introduction of the Nigerian Industrial Standards Attestation Certificate as a mandatory requirement for all Federal Government procurement involving goods, works and services where applicable standards exist.
Industry stakeholders say this move could significantly improve accountability in government spending while promoting the use of certified local products.
Enoh noted that the reform aligns with the administration of Bola Tinubu and its “Nigeria First Policy,” which seeks to encourage patronage of locally produced goods.
He explained that consumer confidence remains central to the success of local manufacturing, adding that quality assurance is key to turning government support into real market preference.
“Quality is what turns patronage into preference,” he said.
“When Nigerian products meet Nigerian standards consistently and verifiably, consumers will choose them not because they must, but because they should.”
“The platform ensures that every naira of public expenditure purchases not just goods, works and services, but quality, durability and value,” Enoh said.
The minister also linked the initiative to ongoing efforts to improve Nigeria’s business environment, arguing that digital reforms are essential for removing bureaucratic bottlenecks that hinder investment and enterprise growth.
“The ease of doing business is not an abstraction; it is the sum of a thousand small frictions removed,” he said.
“Every form that no longer needs to be filed in person, every certificate that can be verified instantly, these are the quiet reforms that compound into competitiveness.”
Stakeholder Urges Adoption
He urged regulators, manufacturers and private sector operators to fully adopt the platform, warning that its success would depend on collaboration and widespread usage.
Also speaking at the event, the Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Ifeanyi Okeke, described the initiative as the beginning of a new era in Nigeria’s quality assurance system.
Okeke said the platform would serve as a single digital gateway to the country’s quality infrastructure, providing users with access to standards, certification services, verified manufacturers and product authentication tools.
“From today, Nigerian Industrial Standards, compliance tools and conformity assessment services are available digitally, searchable and verifiable, without the barriers of distance, queues or paperwork,” he said.
He explained that the platform would significantly reduce the cost and difficulty of accessing standards, particularly for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, which often struggle with compliance due to limited resources.
According to him, businesses will now be able to obtain internationally recognised standards at reduced costs through the platform, leveraging SON’s partnerships with global standards organisations.
“The platform enables users to purchase selected adopted international standards at up to 35 per cent below the original cost,” Okeke disclosed.
He added that the initiative would also empower consumers by providing tools to verify the authenticity and certification status of products before purchase, a move expected to curb the proliferation of counterfeit goods in the market.
“For the first time, Nigerians can conveniently verify the certification status of products, identify genuine manufacturers and obtain reliable information from a single trusted platform,” he said.
Analysts note that poor access to standards and cumbersome certification processes have long hindered industrial growth in Nigeria, especially for smaller businesses that lack the capacity to navigate complex regulatory systems.
By digitising these processes, the government aims to lower entry barriers, encourage compliance and foster a culture of quality across industries.
The initiative also comes at a time when Nigeria is seeking to diversify its economy away from oil dependence and strengthen its manufacturing base.
Experts say that improving product quality and compliance with international standards is critical for Nigerian goods to compete in regional and global markets, including under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area.
With the introduction of the Digital Standards Platform, the Federal Government is positioning standards not as a regulatory burden but as a strategic tool for economic growth.
