Following campaign promises, Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari has created a special committee to revive the country’s weak cotton and textile industries.
According to The Guardian Nigeria, permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Sonny Echono said that cotton, textile and garment businesses across the country have become “shadows of themselves” because of an influx of cheap textile materials, inconsistent government policies and the dumping of sub-standard textile materials in the country.
He noted that the industry employed over 400,000 workers in the past but its workforce has significantly reduced to roughly 30,000.
“Worried and concerned on the need to create jobs and add value, because we are spending so much money in importing garments, the President gave this charge to set up this committee,” Echono added.
However, Echono expressed optimism that the Nigerian textile industry has the potential to compete with the best in the world. He added that President Buhari’s administration is committed to ensuring substantial growth in the production of high quality cotton to fuel and bring back thriving textile and garment industries.