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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Minister of State for Industry, John Owan Enoh, has assured of the federal government’s willingness to revive moribund textile, cotton and garment industries.
Enoh made the promise when he led some stakeholders to the textile, cotton, and garment sector in Kaduna State yesterday.
He pointed out that the tour formed part of the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to industrial revitalisation under Agenda 7 of President Bola Tinubu’s 8-Point Agenda, which he said was about job creation, inclusive economic growth, and industrial development.
According to him, part of the tour was a visit to the United Nigerian Textiles Limited (UNTL), which once served as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.
He disclosed that the delegation equally visited Chellco Industries, which has remained operational since 1980, despite decades of economic turbulence.
Enoh commended the management for their unwavering commitment and noted that Chellco currently provides direct employment to over 290 workers, contributing significantly to the local economy.
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He pledged continued government support and conveyed President Tinubu’s goodwill, assuring stakeholders that the administration remains steadfast in its mission to restore Nigeria’s industrial pride and reposition the CTG sector as a driver of inclusive growth.
He divulged that there would be sub-sector stakeholder engagements to identify and resolve bottlenecks;
promote public-private partnerships and collaboration with development partners; strengthen policy frameworks to support local manufacturing and boost export competitiveness.
He underscored the symbolic and economic importance of UNTL’s revival, stating that its return to full operation would restore confidence in Nigeria’s textile heritage and catalyse broader industrial growth.
On his part, Emir of Kano and UNTL Chairman, His Royal Highness Sanusi Lamido, expressed concern over the factory’s cessation of operations in 2022, attributing it to economic constraints despite its legacy of employing over 10,000 workers across the textile value chain—from spinning and weaving to printing and garment production.
Lamido highlighted the socio-economic impact of UNTL’s collapse, particularly on youth and women, noting its contribution to rising insecurity in the region.
The monarch appealed to the Federal Government to urgently address challenges like unreliable power supply, which severely hindered production; infiltration of smuggled and dumped textiles, undermining domestic competitiveness; weak intellectual property protection, discouraging innovation and investment; and limited institutional support for local procurement, especially for military and paramilitary uniforms.
