The Nation Newspaper

Tag: textile

  • Importers spend N2.29t on textile, rice, fish others

    Importers of textile materials, rice, fish, wheat and sugar spend close to N2.29 trillion to bring the commodities to Nigeria, yearly, The Nation has learnt.

    A senior official of the Federal Ministry of Finance, who spoke on condition of anonymity, condemned the high rate of smuggling of the items into the country. The official said textile materials’ importers spend close to N1.29 trillion annually to ferry the items into the country.

    The official, who described those involved in smuggling as economic saboteurs, said smuggled textile materials have continued to flood the markets despite the efforts of the Nigeria Customs Service to curb the menace.

    He said: “From Lagos to Ibadan, Kano, Kaduna and Katsina,  the smuggled textile materials are there. The smugglers are not only undermining the local industry, they also deprive the Federal Government of the needed revenue.

    “Anybody that is involved in smuggling of textile materials, agricultural produce and other items are guilty of economic sabotage. Smuggling is inimical to the national interest, economic growth and rapid development.

    “With the huge number of casualties suffered so far by the Nigeria Customs Service, it shows that smugglers have not only become more aggressive, but creative and determined to continue with their illicit business and that is why Nigerians need to support Customs in its war against smugglers by giving them useful information,” the official said.

    Also, the Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Prof. Baba Abubakar, said rice, fish, wheat, fish and sugar importers spend N1 trillion annually.

    Abubakar, who was represented by the Acting Director, Partnership and Linkages Programme, Yarama Ndirpaya, disclosed this during a seminar on Agricultural Biotechnology in Abuja.

    He said Nigeria was the largest importer of US hard red and white wheat to the tune of N635 billion yearly; world’s number two importer of rice at N356 billion; spends N217 billion on sugar and N97 billion on fish imports every year.

    This, he said, was unacceptable. “Nigeria spends over N1 trillion on the top four food imports annually. And farmers have limited capacity and use techniques that adversely affect soil fertility, water and biodiversity. Human-induced climate change compounds the issue,” he said.

  • ‘Access to finance, manufacturing hubs will unlock textile industry’s potentials’

    ‘Access to finance, manufacturing hubs will unlock textile industry’s potentials’

    Improved access to finance, capacity building and creation of a network of manufacturing hubs, constant electricity supply and other factors have been identified as enablers that would unlock the growth potential of Nigeria’s ailing Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) sector.

    This was the view expressed by speakers at the inaugural edition of the Africa Fashion Week Textile and Garment manufacturing conference on Friday, 1 July 2016 in Lagos.
    The theme of the conference which had in attendance policy makers, development finance institutions, bilateral trade institutions, fashion entrepreneurs and manufacturers was “_Making Nigeria the Fashion Hub of Africa_.”

    In his welcome address, Chairman of the conference and President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBBC), Mr. Dapo Adelegan, disclosed that the textile industry is the 2nd largest industry in any nation. Proclaiming that the future of the industry in Nigeria is bright, he urged that the conference should be used as a platform to encourage investment in the CTG sector which will ultimately, boost
    the GDP of the country.

    Declaring the conference open, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar, said the federal government is fully committed to reviving the CTG sector of the manufacturing industry and would also support all parts of its value chain of which fashion is one.

    This process, she said, is in line with the core economic mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to create jobs.

    The minister outlined some of the steps taken by the federal government in reviving the CTG sector such as the creation of an enabling business environment, the repositioning of government agencies like Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Bank of Industry (BOI), appropriation of funds to the CTG industry and resolution of the issue of multiple taxation.

    “Government is creating an enabling environment by improving the ease of doing business for which a presidential committee driven by the private sector would be set up. SMEDAN industrial training fund and Bank of Industry are being repositioned
    to address the MSMES.
    They are core to the implementation of the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) which is aimed at generating about five million jobs.

    “Funds are being set aside to refinance the CTG sector and address legacy problems including power. Tax incentives and changes in regulations do affect employment. Proposals are being discussed on how the issue of multiple tax can be addressed,” Mrs Abubakar said.

    The minister also announced that the government would soon create Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and garment production hubs and urged members of the fashion industry to take advantage of the project to develop the value chain of the sector.

    “Government is also looking into setting up ICT and garment production hubs which will offer opportunities across the value chain. I would like to implore the fashion industry to look at these areas in the value chain especially currently underdeveloped and look for collaborative ways of moving this forward. This will bring in more people into the industry which has the potential to generate employment,” Mrs Abubakar stated.

    In his keynote address, the Lagos State Commissioner of Finance, Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi, said the importation of foreign fabrics and clothing which is as a result of Nigerians preference for foreign goods is hampering the growth and development of the textile industry and the fashion value chain. He said this is regrettable in spite of superiority of some local and African apparel such as Adire, Kampala and Ankara to the foreign ones that are being dumped in the country.

    He urged young Nigerians in the fashion industry to take advantage of vocational training, micro-financing and employment trust fund initiatives of the state government to create innovative designs and apparels using local fabrics.
    While decrying the dearth of fashion institutes in the country, he announced the intent of the Lagos State Government to establish centres of excellence for fashion design training at the state owned university and polytechnic.

    Speaking on the need for the conference, Founder, Africa Fashion week Nigeria, Ms. Ronke Ademiluyi said; “After six years of creating opportunities for Nigerian designers to excel on the global stage, we were compelled to commit resources to the development of the local fashion industry value chain. Without a thriving local value chain, we will be unable to translate the runway success of our designers and
    fashion entrepreneurs to job creation and shared prosperity for our nation. Our commitment is to improved access to finance for designers, capacity development programmes and establishment of manufacturing hubs.”

    The Africa Fashion Week Textile and Manufacturing conference is the primary activity of the first day of Africa Fashion Week Nigeria.
    Organised by AFWL Africa Concepts, the conference aims to redefine textile and garment production processes in Nigeria.

  • FG reaffirms commitment to revive textile industry

    FG reaffirms commitment to revive textile industry

    The Federal Government on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to revive the lost glory of the country’s Cotton, Textile and Garment industry for sustainable economic development.

    Mrs. Aisha Abubakar, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment said this at the Textile and Garment Manufacturing Conference organised by Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) 2016 in Lagos.

    Abubakar said that the government was passionate about promoting growth in the industry and across its value chain.

    The minister said that the government would continue to create an enabling environment to promote the ease of doing business and active participation of the private sector to boost production.

    According to her, SMEDAN and BOI have been repositioned to implement NEDEP goals to boost SME development in the country.

    She stressed that government initiatives toward stimulating growth in the industry included tax incentives, harmonised tax, infrastructural development and financing.

    Abubakar said that the government was looking at creating production hub for Cotton industry and Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) sector.

    She said: “Nurtured MSMEs can contribute to GDP, job creation and wealth for the citizens.
    “We urge all stakeholders to contribute to economic growth by giving their best so that we can have a Nigeria that we can all be proud of.”

    Mr. Abiodun Akinkunmi, the Commissioner for Finance, Lagos State said that textile and garment industry had a strategic role to play in economic development.

    He said, “Africa is behind in terms of industrialisation because it has become over supplied with garments from China and used clothes from Europe and U.S. sold at give-away prices.’’
    “The low prices rather than boost the African market kills our cultural heritage. Our love for foreign clothes is destroying our economy.”

    He urged local manufacturers to improve the standards and quality of their products in order to discourage the dumping of foreign textiles and garments in the country.

    Akinkunmi also urged manufacturers to encourage the use of local materials like adire, aso oke, animal skin, ankara as major designs that must not go into extinct in order to boost the country’s GDP.

    He urged the Federal Government to exploit opportunities inherent in the African Growth Opportunities Act (AGOA) to boost the revenue of the non-oil sector.

    Prince Dapo Adelegan, the President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) said that increased investment was key to developing the textile and garment industry.

    Mr Joseph Babatunde, the Head, Large Enterprises, Bank of Industry, said that the BOI believed in the potential of the African textile industry hence it floated the N1 billion fashion industry fund.

    He urged fashion entrepreneurs to exploit the opportunity of the finance to promote the growth of the industry.

    “We need effective utilisation of the fund so that we can make the industry better.
    “Sam and Sara, United Textile Ltd. (UNTL) are some of the projects that the bank has supported and they are performing well in the industry,” Babatunde said.

    He urged the Federal Government to evolve more strategies that would expand and promote the textile industry.

  • Tambuwal distributes textile, food items to orphans

    Tambuwal distributes textile, food items to orphans

    Ahead of the Eid-Fitr sallah celebration, Governor Aminu  Tambuwal of Sokoto State has kicked  off the distribution of assorted textile clothing to 9,000 orphans across the state.

    He launched the distribution of food items to 3,485 indigent persons.

    Inaugurating the distribution at Kuchi village in Kebbe Local Government, Tambuwal said each female orphan will receive a wrapper and N1,000 for sewing. Each male orphan will receive five yards, as well as N1,000.

    The governor explained that the gesture was aimed at assisting the orphans and the needy to celebrate the forthcoming Eid-il-Fitr with ease.

    He said: “The state government is strongly committed to ensuring the welfare of all categories of people in the state.

    ‘’We will always strive to fulfil our campaign promises to the people in spite of so many challenges.’’

    However, the two  categories of beneficiaries were drawn from the 85 Districts, in the 23 Local Governments of the state.

    Both the food items and the clothing materials were purchased by the state government through the state Zakat and Endowment Committee.

    Tambuwal also announced a personal donation of three hundred bags of rice to the people of Kuchi District.

    Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, commended the state government for the gesture, urging wealthy persons in the state to emulate.

    District Head of Binji, Alhaji Kabiru Usman, appealed to Nigerians to pray for leaders at all levels to succeed.

    Abubakar also admonished Nigerians to seek divine forgiveness as a panacea to the current multi-faceted challenges in the country.

    Commissioner for Religious Affairs Alhaji Mani Katami hailed Tambuwal for prioritising  activities of the Ministry, assuring that it would remain committed to its responsibilities and for the welfare of the less privilege in the state.

     

  • Fed Govt to resuscitate textile sector, says Osinbajo

    Fed Govt to resuscitate textile sector, says Osinbajo

    The Federal Government, yesterday in Kano assured the National Union of Textile, Garments and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGWN) that it will do all it can to ensure that the challenges facing the textile industry become a thing of the past.

    Addressing members of the union at its 11th Quadrennial Delegates Conference, with Back to the Basics as its theme, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said serious efforts are being made by the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Col Hameed Ali (rtd) to combat smuggling as well as indiscriminate dumping of textiles and garments in the market.

    Represented by a Permanent Secretary, Aminu Bisala, he said the Federal Government is firmly committed to developing infrastructure, as well as enhancing the overall ease of doing business in the country, particularly for businesses.

    He also assured that trade facilitation within and across borders will be given priority, adding that the nation can meaningfully build on these areas, not  only to address the needs of today but to provide for the future prosperity of Nigerians, yet unborn.

    ‘’I therefore wish to assure the Nigerian textile workers that together we can surmount the challenges,’’Prof Osinbajo said.

    He said  the Federal Government is also encouraging textile workers to prioritise skills development and adhere to global standards, so that they can efficiently compete and create the much needed jobs, as well as combat counterfeiting.

    Osinbajo reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to providing stable power and access to finance through the Bank of Industry (BoI).

    ‘’I therefore enjoin you to show commitment in your industry and enhance production capacity and skills, as well added value to your products in order to compete favourably with legitimate imported garments in the market,” he said.

    Osinbajo also assured NUTGWN, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other stakeholders of President Muhammdau Buhari’s commitment to industrialising the sector and creating an enabling environment through well thought out policies.

    ‘’The government is determined in its commitment to diversify the economy through exports promotion and will support you in promoting local patronage of made-in-Nigeria garments,’’ the vice president assured.

    Noting that the Delegates Conference was timely, Osinbajo said it is a reflection of the determination of the group to address the challenges facing textile industry and position the sector for sustainable growth.

    Prof Osinbajo identified inadequate infrastructure and financing, informality distortion, standardisation challenges, lack of access to international markets, smuggling and the dumping of used clothes and many more as the challenges inhibiting the development of the sector.

    He recalled that since independence, successive governments adopted different industrial policies, such as the substitution of the industrialisation policy of 1960, as well the Nigerian industrialisation policy of 1972 Structural Adjustment Programme of 1986, Trade Liberalisation policy of 1989, and BoI in 2000.

  • Expert laments closure of textile firms, loss of jobs

    Expert laments closure of textile firms, loss of jobs

    A United Kingdom-based firm, Plexus Cotton Limited in collaboration with Nigerian-owned Synergy Cotton and Agro Allied Limited have pledged to  revive the cotton industry in the country.

    The two firms have started a campaign with the farmers in Kano and its environ on the need to revive the agric sector, especially the cotton value chain during a seminar in the ancient city.

    Chairman, Plexus Cotton, Mr. Nick Earlam, lamented the neglect of  cotton production in the country, which he said depleted from 900, 000 metric tonnes in the 60s to less than 45,000 metric tonnes.

    He said the worrisome trend has led to the closure of textile industries and loss of jobs, pointing out that his company would redress the issue, using technology and other incentives for farmers, to add value to cotton.

    Earlam said his company would  engage 3, 000 employees and later 200,000 small holder farmers to turn around the cotton sector for the benefit of the country.

    “Without the raw materials, we don’t have the capability to build the value chain. All the three chains have to work together. It does not work if everybody wants to do it on its own. We have to do it with the private enterprises, development agencies and with government support. We need to make the cotton grow again. We don’t need to be selfish. The target is to build the cotton back to 100,000 metric tonnes in the next two years,” Earlam said.

    He stressed the need to add value to Nigeria’s cotton to enhance development, create more jobs and build the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    Earlier, Chairman, Synergy Cotton and Agro Allied Limited, Dr. Adebayo Jimoh, said the company was out to replicate the success story of the value addition programme it did in Uganda, Mozambique and Malawi.

    He said the collaboration between Plexus and his company was in line with the desire ofPresident Muhammadu Buhari to revive the agric sector to create jobs and empower the citizens.

    “But Mr. President cannot do it alone. We also cannot do it alone. You, as the merchants, cannot do it alone. We need a partnership and by the time you listen to what were done successfully in Uganda; you will agree with me that our President is on a right course.

    “For any country where there is no cotton production, food production generally goes down. Cotton is life and big people in the world started life as cotton traders. Let’s believe in cotton to enjoy better life, improve GDP and prosperity for all,” Jimoh stated.

    Spokesperson, Kano State Cotton Merchants, Alhaji Lawan Garo, urged the cotton farmers to key into the initiative of the cotton firms and use the opportunity in line with the approved agricultural practices for expected and increased output.

    Earlier, management teams of both firms had visited the Kano State Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, with the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry.

    Welcoming the teams, the deputy governor expressed the readiness of the government to support the cotton value chain.

    Abubakar referred to the garment factory established by the immediate past administration in each local government area of the state as part of support the government has created to improve cotton value chain, urging Earlam and his team to visit the factories and see how they could be improved upon.

  • Govt’s textile revival effort genuine, says Aremu

    Govt’s textile revival effort genuine, says Aremu

    Labour is upbeat about the Muhammadu Buhari administrations plan to revive the textile industry.

    It was part of its campaign, National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) Secretary-General  Issa Aremu has noted.

    Speaking at the 27th Annual National Education Conference in Kaduna, organised by NUTGTWN,  Comrade Aremu, said: “Our chosen theme this year is to assist Buhari’s administration to consolidate on the few gains of the past, avoid policy mistakes of the past and above all, revive all closed factories where past governments, in spite of their efforts, could not stop the free fall.”

    Aremu quoted Buhari as saying:”I have made a promise to Nigerians that jobs will be created as part of efforts to revive the economy and that promise will be fulfilled. We will move as fast as we can to resuscitate the textile and mining industries, and improve production in our agricultural sector. We cannot allow industries and factories to close down. Instead, we should be making every effort to ensure that we re-open the closed ones and attract new ones to reduce unemployment.”

    He also urged President Buhari to ensure that smuggling and counterfeiting of textile materials are  halted, adding that if such socio-economic activities are allowed to thrive, they would rub on his good image.

    Aremu said: “We were encouraged during Gen Buhari’s campaign that he has resolved to revive textile and garment industry as part of his party’s overall strategy to re-industrialise the county and create mass employment for the millions of unemployed.

    “We recall that in the 70s and up to early 80s, (when General Buhari and his patriotic team were in power) Nigeria was the largest producer of different range of textile, garment and carpet products surpassed in production only by Egypt and South Africa. We are willing to partner with his administration to reinvent this sector, which has propelled newly industrialised countries in recent times such as China, India, Balgadesh and Indonesia among others.

    He said 26 out of the 36 states grow cotton of both long and short stable lengths; in addition as an oil-producing country, Nigeria boasts of a large polyester base.

    “Combined with the 170 million population rich in fashion and clothing and huge labour force of some 70 million potential workers, Nigeria has the potential of producing 1.2 billion meters of cloth per year. When we factor the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) sub-regional market, Nigeria is a natural textile destination point in the world.

    “The major threat to the realisation of the great potential of Nigeria in textile production is high influx of counterfeit and smuggled goods. The real acid test of Gen Buhari’s incoming administration’s anti-corruption is how he frontally fight smuggling.

    “Over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s huge market size is dominated by smuggled and counterfeit goods, killing local companies in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Guzau, Aba and Port Harcourt, and millions of direct and indirect associated local jobs. In addition, smuggling denies the government the much needed revenue in unpaid custom duties. While private sector is the engine of growth, it is the government that must “oil” this engine, failing which it will crash as it has with the textile industry,” Aremu said.

    He said nations want to employ their youths, produce goods and services, overcome poverty and under-development. To this extent, he said every nation protects its own industry, whether the industry is in ‘infancy’ or ‘adulthood’, adding that Nigeria cannot be different under Gen Buhari’s administration, which has commendably raised expectations to fight unemployment and grow the economy.

  • ‘Textile industries ‘ll be resuscitated’

    The Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru el-Rufai, has  said that his administration’s resolve to revive the ailing textile industries was irrevocable.

    He said this at the opening of the 27th Annual National Education Conference of National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) in Kaduna.

    The three-day conference had as its theme: “Buhari’s Administration: Revival of Textile Industry and Creation of Mass Decent Jobs.” The governor said it was regrettable that the textile industries which used to employ tens of thousands in the state could now only employ about 1,500 employees. ‘’This is unfortunate and must be addressed’’, he said.

    Commending the Federal Government’s commitment to revive the textile industries in the country, he assured the textile workers that his government would ensure that the textile industries were fully resuscitated to their former status.

    Meanwhile, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, noted that the commitment displayed by President Muhammadu Buhari to revive the industries is commendable. According to him, the move would create thousands of jobs for the youth. “We are hopeful on President Buhari because of his shown committment to the revival of the textile industries,’’ he said.

    The governor called on the textile workers to give President Buhari full support in the effort to revive the textile industry.

    The NUTGTWN Secretary General, Issa Aremu, disclosed that a total of 101,700 of textile industries factories had closed shops in the country, noting that past governments did nothing to revive the industry.”It is commendable that Buhari’s administration named textile revival explicitly in his campaign promise.

  • Reviving Nigeria’s ailing textile industry

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s good resolve to create three million new jobs in the textile industry is a positive development that deserves the support of all well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians. As a stakeholder in the Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) sub-sector of the economy, I am assuring fellow Nigerians that the CTG sub-sector alone is capable of creating more than one million new jobs if all the right things are put in place, especially if there is political will on the part of both the executive and legislative arms of governments at all levels as well as the determination, sincerity, patience and commitment of all stakeholders.

    I want to advance some measures that can be applied to achieve desired goals. To ensure the success of President Buhari’s motives within a short period, institutions such as the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Central Bank of Nigeria, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission should forge a formidable team to promote and protect the sub sector the same way a mother guards and protects her child. A team work on the part of aforementioned institutions will ensure elimination of faulty documentations, money laundering, dumping of sub-standard textile materials as well as foreigners doing business in Nigeria with visiting visas or with fake entry documents.

    Also, the Presidency should pursue the principles of African Growth Opportunity Act of the United States with vigour. Opportunities abound for Nigeria in AGOA regarding garment production, which can guarantee employment of more tailors and continued patronage of students in departments of tailoring and fashion design in our tertiary institutions. This can equally bring about an increase in the establishment of small and medium scale industries such as zip making, buttons production, elastic and packaging industries, among others. Patronage of state governments to the sector will mean the same as above as well as increase in competitiveness in schools sports programmes and ensure local products are patronised.

    For the desired result to meaningful, the President will need to declare a National Textile Day. This will be a once a week, non-ceremonial, but action packed day whereby all political office holders, appointees and other public office holders in the country will dress in home-made textile attires that are culturally popular and patronized in their section of the country.

    If this noble gesture is backed with a legislation that bans the importation of all categories of ready-made clothes on commercial basis, it will make our tailors to perfect and be competitive in production of garments at international standard, thereby ensuring self-reliance in garments as well as conserving foreign exchange. This will attract foreign investors to the sector and bring about financial control, development and strengthening of the sector. The proposed legislation should promote, develop and protect the sector by limiting the importation of textile fabrics that could not be produced in Nigeria now to 70% and production of 30% by Nigerian textile manufacturers. The legislation for importation of textile materials should require presidential approval and only from countries willing to invest in Nigeria’s textile sector. Part of the legislation to patronize made-in-Nigeria textiles and garments by all private and public institutions should be extended to school uniforms, sports wears, school house vests, hotel toiletries, bathroom napkins, towels, hospitals cotton wools, bed sheets, mosquito nets and blankets. All these can be sourced locally if the political leadership is willing to walk the talk. As an incentive, black oil allocation (LPFO) should be made directly to textile manufacturers at affordable price.

    I also propose that one spinning and ginning plant be established in each of the six geo-political zones i.e. Funtua in the North-west, Gombe in the North-east, Nassarawa in North-central, Oyo in South-west, Asaba in the South-south and Aba in the South-east to serve as a springboard or back up project for the success of cotton, textile and garment development projects. This is also to ensure that medium scale textiles and garment factories spring up across the nation with easy availability of yarn, since spinning industry is highly capital intensive, and it is the backbone of any textile fabric. This is realisable with the constitution of a new CTG revival committee that will be peopled with real stakeholders who will be responsible for designing the revival, production, marketing and sound planning for the CTG sub sector. A good way to start is for the committee to draw its membership from the Nigerian Textile Technologists Association, Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association, representatives of Garment Manufacturers, Cotton Farmers and Merchants, the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Raw Materials Research Council, among others.

    Finally, there is the need to have a thriving textile council whose main task is to oversee the registration and accreditation of bodies for the training of textile professionals in the country. A textile competency centre should also be established in the National Research Institute of Chemical Technology (NARICT) ABU Zaria, for the continual training of the professionals. And tertiary institutions that have programmes in textile science, engineering, technology and art should be adequately funded and consulted on issues affecting the industry. If all these are given prompt and adequate attention, I have no doubt in my mind that Nigeria’s ailing textile industry will be revived within a very short time so that it can unleash further opportunities for millions of Nigerians.

     

    • Adhama (MFR, FTTN) is founder of Adhama Textiles and Garment Industry, Kano.
  • ‘Nigeria needs N137b to revive textile industry’

    ‘Nigeria needs N137b to revive textile industry’

    The committee on resuscitation of cotton, textile and garments set up by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) yesterday said Nigeria needs N137.2billion to revive the textile industry.

    The Ministry had on 13th July set up four committees on the operationalisation of Federal Government’s Storage and Agro Processing Facilities; Resuscitation of Cotton, Textile and Garments; Strategic Action Plan for the Development of Grazing Reserves and Stock Routes Nationwide and Revitalisation of Agricultural Extension Services in Nigeria with terms of references.

    The committee in a document presented to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Sonny Echono, in Abuja, advised the Federal Government to inject N137.2 billion into the sector between next year and 2019.

    It stated that N100 billion meant for cotton, textile and garment sector was domiciled with the Bank of Industry (BoI), urging the government to make the funds available for use.

    Chairman of the committee, Damilola Eniayeju said this would effectively serve as working capital that will assist in the retooling of operational textile mills, as well as resuscitate about 80 closed mills and 23 ginneries that had been shut down across the country.

    He said: “The proposed N37.2billion should be used to support all sections of the cotton, textile and garments sector.”

    Eniayeju emphasised the need for improvement of cotton production through financial support for the Institute for Agricultural Research and recommended financial support for the National Biotechnology Development Agency to enable it deploy biotechnologically improved cotton at confined fields at trial levels.

    On cotton seed multiplication and seed supply, the committee chair recommended a virile and systematic breeder foundation and certified seed regeneration system, while mandating the National Agricultural seed Council (NASC) to always certify and regulate the cotton seed industry.

    On seed marketing, it urged the FMARD and Ministry of Trade and Investment (FMITT) to work closely to establish the Cotton Corporation of Nigeria (CCN) to revive Cotton Production and Competitiveness.

    Also, the committee on Grazing Reserves and Stock Routes Nationwide called for the establishment of a National Programme on Grazing Reserves and Stock Routes development; strengthening of existing conflict resolution and prevention mechanisms.