Buy Nigeria Campaign likely to revive cotton, textile and garment industries

During the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo meeting with industry stakeholders and members of the Implementation Committee on the National Cotton, Textile and Garment Policy said that patronage of made in Nigeria products by Nigerians is important and can contribute to the revival of the cotton, textile and garment industries.

Nigerians buying Nigerian products is very important and it goes beyond the symbolism of wearing Nigerian-made dresses. It is important for their economy and well-being, Prof. Osinbajo declared in the statement.

Members of the Implementation Committee composed of both government officials and industry stakeholders had earlier highlighted a number of strategies for the revival of the cotton, textile and garments industries including the promotion of Nigeria-made dresses among others. Specifically the Committee is proposing a “Wear Naija Day,” where public officials and employees of corporate organisations would all wear locally made fabric.

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment had articulated a new policy to revamp the industries through a number of interventions including battling smuggling in order to attain a 15% reduction by next year, facilitating assess to funding for the sector, addressing the challenges of energy, lifting the ban on importation of finished products and using the duties and levies raised there from to support the industries, among several other strategies.

Prof. Osinbajo noted that the challenge of smuggling of foreign textile materials into the country had to be tackled, adding that, overall it is up to all of them to see that this particular initiative works, they have talked enough.

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Aisha Abubakar who attended the meeting noted that the ministry came up with the Cotton, Textile and Garment policy, CTG in order to provide a suit of interventions holistically across the value chain, including encouraging local patronage, controlling smuggling, production of improved seedling, cost of energy, cost of funds, training and upgrading and modernization of infrastructure.

The past attempts to revive the industries failed because they had addressed only the issue of funding.