The federal government of Nigeria has unveiled measures aimed at tackling some of the industrial constraints in the nation’s textile sector. The strategies being employed include stopping companies from leaving the country, stopping smuggling and counterfeiting and prioritising patronage for Made-in-Nigeria products by government agenices.

Hajia Aisha Abubakar, Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment said this while on a tour of textile factories in Kano as part of activities during the North-west Regional Customer Forum. The development finance institution has been at the forefront of reviving the declining textiles sector, having approved loans to over 70 projects in the CTG value chain. The minister toured factories along with the President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Frank Jacobs, the General Secretary of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, Isah Aremu and the General Manager of BOI, Joseph Babatunde among others.

Abubakar says the government has identified several issues including gas supply smuggling and counterfeiting as constraints which would be addressed to revive the textile industry in the country. She said the government was trying to address the issue of patronage. Detailing the issue of patronage, she hoped that by next year the country will see more results.

She also noted that the Export Expansion Grants (EEG) previously offered as incentives by government was grossly abused by stakeholders adding that the government was looking at bringing it back in an entirely different way for better and effective implementation.