UK market offers tariff relief for 3, 000 products under the DCTS programme

The call was made by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, during the recent UK–Nigeria Trade Mission held at the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in Abuja. The event brought together government officials, UK importers, and Nigerian entrepreneurs to explore new avenues in bilateral trade.

 A Catalyst for Economic Transformation

Minister Oduwole described the UK’s tariff relief as more than mere trade facilitation; it is a major opportunity for Nigerian exporters, particularly women-led businesses, to:

• Scale Production: Meet the increased demand of a competitive international market.
• Reduce Market-Entry Costs: Significantly lower the financial barrier to entry for diverse products.
• Expand Globally: Position Nigerian brands in one of the world’s most lucrative consumer markets.

“We are not merely facilitating transactions, we are opening doors for livelihoods, and for economic transformation across our continent,” the Minister stated. She highlighted that the tariff relief, which covers a wide range of products from agriculture, processed foods, cosmetics, and wellness items, is a significant milestone in the bilateral relationship.

Empowering the Backbone of the Economy

The focus of the trade mission was strategically placed on women-led businesses, which the Minister noted remain the backbone of the Nigerian economy. The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), through its Executive Director/CEO, Nonye Ayeni, highlighted key government interventions aimed at ensuring Nigerian products meet global standards:

• Capacity Building: Through the SheTrades Nigeria Hub and the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, 146 women-led businesses have already been trained in export procedures, digital commerce, branding, and market strategy.

• Global Certification: The NEPC’s “Go Global, Go Certification” project has sponsored over 400 MSMEs to acquire vital international certifications such as HACCP, FDA, Halal, and ISO 22000, with 80% of beneficiaries being women-led enterprises.

These programs are crucial in ensuring that Nigerian products are competitive and well-positioned to access high-value export markets under the DCTS.

From Knowledge to Partnerships

The trade mission provided women-led businesses with practical, actionable knowledge of UK entry requirements and fostered direct, meaningful partnerships with UK importers, paving the way for long-term supplier agreements and joint ventures.

The Minister urged all Nigerian women entrepreneurs to leverage these opportunities to enhance product quality and reaffirm the country’s position as a global leader in non-oil exports, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to diversify the national economy.

Nigerian MSMEs, particularly those led by women, are encouraged to engage with the NEPC and the SheTrades Nigeria Hub to access training and certification programs designed to maximise the benefits of the UK’s DCTS.