Nigeria: Govt to Use Local Textile for Military, Paramilitary Uniforms

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Nigeria: Govt to Use Local Textile for Military, Paramilitary Uniforms

— The federal government says plans are underway for Nigerian military and para-military personnel to use made in Nigeria textile for their uniforms.

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Hajiya A'isha Abubakar, said this, yesterday, in Benin at the 28th Annual National Education Conference of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) and the Nigerian Textile, Garment and Tailoring Employers Association (NTGTEA).

Represented by a director in the ministry, Barnabas Jattau, Hajiya A'isha said: "The government is presently discussion with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on how to stop smuggling of textiles materials into the country through the nation's border posts."

"The other plan is to reduce production cost, especially the cost of gas. We are working out ways to change gas pricing from dollar to naira."

She said that the government, worried by the state of textile industry in the country, would revive the sector by ensuring that made in Nigeria textile was patronised by Nigerians.

Earlier, the President of the NUTGTWN, John Adaji, urged the federal government officials to wear clothing from fabrics made in Nigeria to encourage local textile manufacturers.

He advised President Muhamadu Buhari to shift from rhetoric to practical actions on the nation's textile industry, saying that his achievement would be measured by the success he recorded in reviving the textile sector.

Also speaking, the Director General of the NTGTEA, Hamman Kwajjaffa, said that poor electricity supply remained major challenge in reviving the ailing textile sector.

He condemned smuggling of textile goods from Asia and other parts of Europe into Nigeria.

On his part, the General Secretary of NUTGTWN and National Vice President, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Isa Aremu, said that the recent re-orientation campaign launched by Buhari should be embraced by especially members of his cabinet.

"The new change mantra must start from the textile industry with the president, vice president and ministers wearing made in Nigeria textiles," he said.

"Our school uniforms, military and para-military uniforms, uniforms of the NYSC should be made in Nigeria with Nigerian fabrics, we must patronise our produce at home."