Nigeria advances its Halal accreditation framework

Nigeria is moving to place its Halal certification system on a footing that international trading partners can recognize and rely on. The work is being coordinated through the Nigeria Halal Accreditation, Verification and Traceability (NAVT) Platform, which brings accreditation, certification and verification into a single system for Nigeria.

Why alignment matters

For a Nigerian producer, a certificate is only as valuable as the number of markets that accept it. Where a certification body operates outside a recognized accreditation framework, its certificates are frequently re-examined — or refused outright — at the border.

• A single Nigeria-wide registry of accredited certification bodies
• Consistent technical criteria applied through NiNAS assessment
• Shariah governance exercised through a standing advisory council
• Batch-level traceability that a buyer can verify independently

Recognition is not a formality. It is the difference between a certificate that opens a market and a certificate that merely documents an audit.

The assessment pathway

Certification bodies enter the pipeline by submitting an application for onboarding. Applications pass through Shariah clearance, technical assessment against SON standards, and finally NHESICS recognition — at which point a recognition number is issued and the body becomes active on the platform for a four-year cycle.

Technical assessment covers management-system conformity, auditor competence, on-site audit practice, and laboratory testing arrangements. Bodies that clear assessment are listed publicly, and businesses can approach any of them directly through the platform.

What businesses should do now

Producers preparing for certification should document their internal halal assurance system before applying — ingredient sourcing, process controls, segregation practices, and supplier declarations. A well-documented system materially shortens the audit stage.