Nigeria Secures Global Recognition for Measurement Standards

Nigeria has secured international recognition for its measurement standards following the signing of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement of the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM MRA) by the Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, in France.

The agreement is expected to strengthen the international acceptance of Nigeria’s calibration certificates, facilitate cross-border trade and reduce manufacturers’ dependence on foreign measurement services.

SON said Okeke signed the arrangement on behalf of Nigeria at the 28th meeting of the General Conference on Weights and Measures. The development followed Nigeria’s admission as an Associate State of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) on June 4, 2026.

Okeke described the agreement as a significant step towards integrating Nigeria into the international measurement system. He explained that the arrangement provides a framework for national metrology institutes to demonstrate the equivalence of their measurement standards, enabling their calibration and measurement certificates to gain international recognition.

He said the development would strengthen global confidence in Nigeria’s measurement capabilities, improve the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses and create opportunities for international scientific collaboration and technical capacity building.

For local manufacturers and small businesses, the recognition is expected to make testing and certification more accessible within the country while helping Nigerian products gain wider acceptance in overseas markets.

The milestone builds on the accreditation of three laboratories at Nigeria’s National Metrology Institute, covering mass, temperature and pressure measurements, to the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard through the Egyptian Accreditation Council.

SON has also introduced several digital initiatives to improve service delivery, including the Digital Standards Platform, the electronic Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme and the Electronic Product Registration System. It has also moved its conformity assessment and import permit processes to the National Single Window.

The organisation secured second place among federal ministries, departments and agencies in the 2024 Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council Transparency and Efficiency Report.

In addition, SON has certified 131 companies and 220 products under the African Quality Mark, supporting Nigerian producers seeking access to markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The agency has also approved 217 Nigerian Industrial Standards under the Nigerian National Standardisation Strategy 2024–2027 and developed more than 80 standards for compressed natural gas to support the expansion of gas-powered transportation.

SON said the international recognition would complement these initiatives by strengthening confidence in Nigerian products, supporting industrial development and improving the country’s participation in global trade.