The Zamfara Textile industry has urged the federal government in Nigeria to ban import of foreign fabrics to revive the nation’s ailing textile mills. Sani Muhammad, the Administrative Secretary of the mill, made the call while fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria in Gusau. He cited the import of textile materials as the reason for the collapse of nation’s textile sector.

Muhammad lamented that Zamfara Textile Industry, established in 1965, had laid off over 2, 500 workers in 2004. It is unfortunate that the industry is not able to come back fully. He therefore, urged the government to provide improved cotton seeds and modern textile machines for Nigerian fabrics to favourably compete with foreign ones.

Meanwhile, the chairman, Ginners Association of Nigeria, Sani Dahiru, blamed poor cotton production on the neglect of the agricultural sector and collapse of the textile industries. Dahiru observed that out of the 15 ginneries operating in the state, only two offered skeletal services.

He urged the government to provide trained agricultural extension workers to assist cotton famers meet the needs of the surviving mills.