FG seeks a concerted effort to revive the Cotton, Textile, others

By Joy Baba-Yesufu

Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, has emphasised the Federal Government’s desire to see the revival of Nigeria’s cotton, textile, and garment sectors.
During the 13th delegate conference of the National Union of Textile, Garment, and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria which ended yesterday in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary remarked that the strength, integrity, and complexity of a country’s industrial sector greatly affects its economic well-being.
“This is why the Federal Government has initiated a lot of reforms geared towards resuscitating the Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) Sector, particularly in policdevelopment and implementation and this has greatly impacted both the industry and the economy at large,in the country” he said.
Rimi recalled the sector’s boisterous past, stating that the Cotton, Textile, and Garment (CTG) Sector used to be the liveliest sector of
Nigeria’s economy, employing at least 450,000 Nigerians, and operating over 170 textile mills throughout the country.
He however, express unhappiness with the sector’s slide to around 20,000 jobs with less than 20 mills, which he deemed unacceptable,
and urged all efforts to ensure that the sector is properly revitalised.
Ambassador Rimi emphasised Federal Government recent efforts, which
included the granting of a 100 billion Naira loan facility through the Bank of Industry to retool, upgrade, and purchase equipment.
Over the years, this lending facility has benefited not less than 35 Textile Industries (10 garment firms, 10 ginneries, and other companies that provide critical services to the sector throughout the country).
Other measures he said include the delivery of seeds to cotton producers through a collaboration between the Ministry and the Raw Material Research and Development Council.
Similarly, the government reclassified petrol prices and supply to the CTG sector to cut production costs from $7.62 Mscf (thousand
standard cubic feet) to $3.36 Mscf. At the same time, the Ministry is actively issuing Import Duty Exemption Certificates (IDECs) to duty-free machinery and spare parts importers.
He also mentioned the federal government’s Executive Order 003, which aims to boost
local patronage and increase market access in the sector and urged people in the industry to reconsider their strategy to capitalise on
government procurement processes.
the Ministry is currently finalising the textile adjustment tax levy, with a 30% levy being remitted to the Bank of industry for sector use through the CTG Fund 2.
He concluded that the prospects and challenges in the CTG Sector necessitate cross-cutting efforts, careful and strategic action by both government agencies and the private sector to achieve the desired result.