The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to providing 99% duty-free access for Nigerian goods under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). The announcement was made during a high-level meeting in Abuja between the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, and Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole.
The DCTS, which officially replaced the UK’s Generalised System of Preferences in June 2023, covers 65 developing countries and aims to simplify trade rules while eliminating tariffs on a wide range of goods. For Nigeria, this means continued zero-tariff entry for agricultural products, raw materials, and select manufactured items into the UK market—an opportunity that could significantly support the country’s ongoing economic diversification agenda.
Dr. Montgomery described the DCTS as a central pillar in UK-Nigeria trade relations and underscored the British government’s commitment to helping Nigeria leverage the full benefits of the scheme.
“While duty-free access exists, the challenge lies in helping Nigerian exporters meet the high standards of the UK market—ranging from product quality and safety to packaging and regulatory compliance,” Montgomery noted.
He further stated that the British High Commission is actively working with Nigerian exporters, trade associations, and relevant government agencies to raise awareness and build capacity, ensuring that Nigerian products are competitive and market-ready for the UK’s consumer base.
Responding to the UK’s assurance, Minister Oduwole said the gesture was timely and aligned with Nigeria’s Zero-Oil Plan, which seeks to boost revenues from non-oil sectors such as agriculture, solid minerals, manufacturing, and the creative industry.
“Our vision is to make Nigeria globally competitive by increasing value-added exports and reducing dependency on crude oil. The UK’s continued support through the DCTS is crucial for this transition,” she said.
Dr. Oduwole highlighted recent reforms by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment aimed at streamlining export processes, facilitating compliance with international standards, and expanding market access for Nigerian SMEs and agro-processors.
The UK market remains a top destination for African exports, and with the DCTS in place, Nigerian businesses now have a preferential entry point into a major global economy. Key products poised to benefit include cocoa, sesame, ginger, leather, textiles, cashew nuts, hibiscus flower, and palm derivatives.
Experts say the scheme offers Nigerian exporters the competitive edge needed to penetrate Europe’s high-value supply chains, provided they invest in certification, product traceability, and value addition.
Additionally, the DCTS provides more liberal rules of origin than previous arrangements, allowing greater flexibility for Nigerian manufacturers and agro-allied exporters to benefit even when raw materials are partially sourced externally.
Beyond the tariff benefits, the UK is also providing technical assistance, including workshops and institutional support to Nigerian regulators and exporters. This includes training on UK health and safety requirements, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, and labelling laws that affect consumer goods entering the British market.
The UK’s support comes amid Nigeria’s broader push to meet AfCFTA compliance standards, boost export-led growth, and reposition itself as a manufacturing and export hub in West Africa.
The reaffirmation of 99% duty-free access under the DCTS presents a major opportunity for Nigeria to ramp up its non-oil export volumes, diversify revenue streams, and reduce the pressure on foreign exchange reserves. However, stakeholders emphasize the need for coordinated efforts across ministries, trade promotion agencies, and the private sector to scale production, improve logistics, and meet global market requirements.
With global supply chains evolving and the UK pursuing stronger trade ties post-Brexit, Nigeria stands at a strategic advantage—if it can rise to the challenge of export readiness.