Business
Quality Products Would Reduce Nigeria’s Exports Reject – SGF Akume

▪︎Picture : Dr. Maurice Mbaeri, PS, OSGF (left) in deep discussion with Osita Aboloma, Chairman/CE, NQC at the workshop on Sustainable Metrology Services in Nigeria. Others from left are Engr. Obiora Manafa, President, Metrology Society of Nigeria; Simeon Umukoro, Trade Market Access Lead at the UK Department for Business & Trade in Nigeria and Celestine Okanya, DG, Nigeria National Accreditation System.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on the organized private sector to consistently demand quality products and services from the public sector in order to foster a culture of quality across the country.
Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, highlighted the importance of quality during a workshop on the Sustainable Provision of Metrology Services held in Lagos.
He emphasized that a strong demand for quality would enhance Nigeria’s ability to trade effectively on an international level, particularly in light of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) and the government’s economic diversification plans.
Represented by Dr. Maurice Mbaeri, the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the SGF, Akume pointed out that a more efficient National Quality Infrastructure, facilitated by the Nigerian National Quality Policy, would lead to increased non-oil exports, improved foreign exchange earnings, job creation, and overall economic growth.
He urged all stakeholders to actively support the implementation of the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol, following Nigeria’s recognition as the Digital Trade Champion for Africa at the recent African Union Assembly.
Osita Aboloma, Executive Chairman of the National Quality Council (NQC), reinforced the Council’s commitment to enhancing the National Quality Infrastructure, which would improve the competitiveness of Nigerian products and services. He remarked that the NQC’s efforts would help increase non-oil exports and reduce the country’s export rejects.
Support from the United Kingdom was acknowledged, particularly in relation to the Standards Partnership Programme (SPP), aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s quality infrastructure. Dr. Simeon Umukoro from the UK Department for Business and Trade reiterated the UK’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s economic initiatives, highlighting that improved quality infrastructure would create new opportunities for innovation and competitiveness.
The partnership aims to elevate Nigeria’s export capacity, attract investment, and enhance trade efficiency in alignment with global standards and practices.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has appointed David Bird, the former head of Oman’s Duqm Refinery, as its new Chief Executive Officer.
A report by S&P global on Friday said, Bird heads the refinery’s petroleum and petrochemicals division in a strategic move to overcome production challenges and advance its next wave of expansion.
Effective from July 2025, the former Shell head of operations at its Balau Pokom refinery stepped in as CEO of the Dangote Group’s fuels and petrochemicals business, which commissioned the world’s largest single-train refinery last year.
The CEO participated at the just concluded Dangote Leadership Development Program Graduation Ceremony.
Business
Trump Imposes 15% tariff on Nigerian Imports
Under the revised tariff schedule:15% tariffs now apply to Nigeria, Angola, Ghana, South Korea, Turkey, Japan, Israel, Norway, and several others.10% tariffs target countries such as the Falkland Islands, the United Kingdom, and others not explicitly listed.

US President Donald Trump has approved a 15 percent import tariff on Nigeria and dozens of other countries.
The White House announced the implementation of the new reciprocal tariff rates on Thursday.
In April, Trump imposed a 14% tariff on Nigerian imports, citing the need for fairer trade terms.
That move was followed by a 90 – day grace period to allow time for bilateral trade negotiations, pushing the final decision deadline to August 1.
However, the majority of talks failed to result in new trade agreements.
As a result, the new tariff rates are now being implemented, with Nigeria among dozens of countries facing increased duties under the revised plan.
African countries, including Nigeria, were unable to secure individual trade deals with the United States despite urgent efforts from both sides.
During the negotiation window, Trump also reintroduced travel restrictions targeting several African nations. Though Nigeria was initially exempt, it was later added to the list as the policy evolved.
Under the revised tariff schedule:15% tariffs now apply to Nigeria, Angola, Ghana, South Korea, Turkey, Japan, Israel, Norway, and several others.10% tariffs target countries such as the Falkland Islands, the United Kingdom, and others not explicitly listed.
Tariffs climb to 18% for Nicaragua, 19% for countries like Indonesia and Pakistan, and 20% for countries like Indonesia and Pakistan, and 20% for Bangladesh, Vietnam, and others.
10% tariffs target countries such as the Falkland Islands, the United Kingdom, and others not explicitly listed.Tariffs climb to 18% for Nicaragua, 19% for countries like Indonesia and Pakistan, and 20% for Bangladesh, Vietnam, and others.
More severe penalties include 25–41% tariffs for countries like India, South Africa, Iraq, and Syria.
Switzerland faces a steep 39% duty, while Laos and Myanmar are hit with 40%.Syria tops the list at 41%.
Meanwhile, negotiations are still ongoing with China, Washington’s main trade rival.
Canada is facing a 35% tariff, while Mexico was hit with a trio of levies, including a 50% duty on metals. Brazil, previously under a 10% tariff, was slapped with an additional 40% charge on Thursday, bringing its total to 50%.
Business
EU accuses online giant Temu of selling ‘illegal’ products
EU regulators believe Temu is not doing enough to protect European consumers from dangerous products and that it may not be acting sufficiently to mitigate risks to users.

The European Union accused Chinese-founded online shopping giant Temu on Monday of breaking the bloc’s digital rules by not “properly” assessing the risks of illegal products.
AFP reports that TEMU, wildly popular in the European Union despite only having entered the continent’s market in 2023, Temu has 93.7 million average monthly active users in the 27- country bloc.
EU regulators believe Temu is not doing enough to protect European consumers from dangerous products and that it may not be acting sufficiently to mitigate risks to users.
Evidence showed that there is a high risk for consumers in the EU to encounter illegal products on the platform,” the European Commission said in its preliminary finding.
It pointed to a mystery shopping exercise that found consumers were “very likely to find non-compliant products among the offer, such as baby toys and small electronics.”
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