FG Moves To Revitalize Nigeria’s Cotton, Textile, and Garment Sector

Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite

 

"Collective efforts are essential for the resurgence. of the CTG Sector. We cannot afford complacency.  Therefore, all hands must be on deck.”Uzoka-Anite

"The backdrop for this meeting was the Nigerian government’s commitment to economic diversification and job creation."

 

A vital town hall meeting between the Federal Government and stakeholders from the Cotton, Textile, and Garment (CTG) sector has held in Abuja, the nation's capital.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and signed by Adebayo Thomas, Director Information Public Relations Department, the meeting aims to address the sector's status and outline a restoration plan.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite’s impassioned address at the meeting, echoed through the hall, as she emphasized the urgency of the situation. 

Uzoka-Anite, while lamenting the CTG sector’s decline, stressed that collective efforts were essential for its resurgence. 

“We cannot afford complacency, therefore, all hands must be on deck.” She declared.

The backdrop for this meeting was the Nigerian government’s commitment to economic diversification and job creation. With a focus on agricultural revolution and value addition, the CTG sector emerged as a linchpin. 

Dr. Anite highlighted its transformative potential: the ability to rejuvenate Nigeria’s rural economy, breathe life into textile and garment industries, and generate millions of jobs.

The multifaceted benefits were clear:

Economic Growth: A thriving CTG sector would bolster internal revenue across federal, state, and local levels.

Cost Reduction: By producing textiles and apparel domestically, Nigeria could reduce its annual import bills significantly.

Foreign Exchange: Exports of textile and garments could earn valuable foreign exchange.

Industrial Development: Positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for textile and apparel would accelerate industrial growth.

Acknowledging the sector’s challenges, Dr. Anite assured stakeholders of the government’s unwavering commitment. “We are resolute,” she affirmed, “in revitalizing the CTG industry.”

One critical step was the re-categorization of gas pricing and supply. The government’s intervention slashed production costs from $7.62 per thousand standard cubic feet (mscf) to $3.36 mscf, providing much-needed relief to manufacturers.

Mr. Suren Abeywickrema, Country Head for Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms, shared an ambitious vision. His company pledged collaboration with CTG stakeholders, including farmers. Seedlings, financing, equipment—these would flow to the fields. In return, farmers would supply cotton, the raw material for Nigeria’s textile and garment production.

The atmosphere was alive with expectancy. Stakeholders expressed their appreciation to the Minister for her persistent dedication. As the meeting closed, hope hovered in the air—a collective commitment to create a brighter future for Nigeria's CTG industry.