The World Bank has warned that Nigeria and other developing countries risk deeper marginalisation in global commerce as international standards increasingly determine who can trade and what products gain access to world markets.
In its World Development Report 2025: Standards for Development, the Bank reveals that standards, ranging from food safety requirements to digital infrastructure protocols, now shape around 90 per cent of global trade, up sharply from 15 per cent in the late 1990s. For Nigeria, where exporters of products such as cocoa, sesame, cashew and manufactured goods frequently encounter technical barriers, the findings highlight a growing challenge.
“Standards are both central and unsung today,” said Indermit Gill, Chief Economist of the World Bank Group. “When they’re set right, they go unnoticed… The standardized shipping container might well have catalyzed more trade in manufactured goods than all the trade deals put together.”
The report notes that most developing countries, including Nigeria, have limited representation in the international committees that write global standards. With less than one-third participation on key ISO committees, many rules affecting Nigerian businesses are shaped without the country’s input. This uneven participation, the Bank warns, weakens competitiveness and constrains export growth.
Sergio Mujica, Secretary-General of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), said the World Bank’s focus underscores the urgency of reform. “International standards are no longer invisible infrastructure, they are critical enablers of sustainable, inclusive development,” he stated. “Unlocking their full development potential means ensuring all countries can participate in their creation and implement them.”
The report urges developing nations to integrate standards into their economic development strategies, citing Japan’s post-war transformation as proof that strong national standardisation systems can support innovation, industrialisation and global competitiveness.
“The lesson from the most successful economies is that standards are not just technical rules, they are the foundation for innovation and global competitiveness,” said Xavier Giné, Director of the 2025 World Development Report. “Countries that treat standards as part of their development strategy… are the ones that have managed to climb the ladder of prosperity.”
For Nigeria, the report serves as a reminder that improving export quality, strengthening manufacturing, and expanding non-oil revenue will depend not only on domestic reforms but also on securing a stronger seat at the global standard-setting table.
