Governors pledge to revive textile industry

No fewer than six governors have pledged to draw practical lessons from the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) in the Republic of Benin to revive the textile industry in Nigeria.

The governors spoke as they joined Vice President Kashim Shettima on an inspection of the integrated industrial zone near Cotonou.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the move was part of efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to establish agro-industrial processing hubs, and revive domestic manufacturing in the country.

The delegation comprised Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State, and Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State.

The governors said that the GDIZ model demonstrated how deliberate government policy, reliable infrastructure and private sector investment could link farmers to processors, reduce the export of raw commodities, and create jobs in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.

AbdulRazaq described the visit as an African peer-learning mission intended to help Nigerian states avoid costly mistakes and adopt tested industrial practices.

He said: “Nigeria is on the verge of developing industrial processing zones across the federation.

“We previously visited Ethiopia to study what they had done, and we are now in Benin Republic to learn from both the challenges and the successes of this industrial zone.

“We have examined the cotton, cashew, and soybean value chains. 

“What we have seen has been a tremendous success, and we will take these lessons back to Nigeria as we implement our own projects.”

AbdulRazaq, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), said that participating states were working with the Federal Government and development partners to provide the infrastructure required for the zones.

Namadi said that the industrial zone had provided useful lessons for his state’s efforts to add value to agricultural production under Nigeria’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme.

He added: “What we have seen here is very encouraging, both for us as a country and as a state.

“We have learnt many things that will help us industrialise Jigawa and create sustainable jobs for our young people.

“With the adoption of this concept and the implementation of the SAPZ programme in Nigeria, Jigawa will be able to add value to its agricultural products and create more opportunities for its people.”

Also, Governor Lawal said that the visit revived memories of the once-thriving textile industry in his state, where factories, cotton ginneries, and oil mills previously employed thousands of people.

He said: “This takes me down memory lane because I grew up around this industry. 

“My father was one of the owners of the Zamfara Textile Industry.

“At one point, the factory operated three shifts, with about 2,000 workers on each shift. 

“Zamfara also had about 23 ginneries and an oil mill, where even cotton seeds were converted into oil.”

The governor said that the GDIZ model had strengthened his determination to restore cotton production and textile manufacturing in Zamfara State.

Lawal added: “This visit has given me a clear pathway. 

“Reviving this industry is one of the legacies I want to leave in Zamfara State, and I am determined to make it a reality.

“When the entire system is restored, farmers, processors and manufacturers will participate in the value chain, creating jobs, adding value and improving the economic conditions of our people.”

Similarly, Governor Uzodimma said that African countries must deepen peer learning and develop industries around their respective comparative advantages to create employment and shared prosperity.

𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖/𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖