Kano spends N14b for industrial power generation

Partners UNIDO for establishing industries. As NLC calls Kachikwu to withdraw statement

The Kano state government has earmarked the sum of N14 billion for a special project aims at generating power in the state, specifically for the revival of industries in the state.

Revealing that, the Kano state governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who was represented by his Deputy, Prof Hafiz Abubakar, during the 11th Quadrennial Delegates Conference, of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), held at Meena Event Centre, Kano, emphasised that, government would do everything possible to make closes industries bounce back.

While calling for public-private partnership in the industrial sector, he stressed that development partners should also come to the rescue of industries generally and textiles in particular.

“Preparations have gone far for the production of 100 megawatts from solar energy. A project that will ne within 18 months. This was done through a consortium where Dangote and other company are also parties, ” Deputy governor disclosed.
He addded that, “The bigger project is also under way. Another one with the same consortium. Under this we are going to get 1,200 megawatts from coal production. ”

All such efforts, according to him were all in am attempt to generate more employment and local content production.
Prof Abubakar said, the state government was in talk with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for the establishment of functional textile and garment industries in the 44 local governments of the state.

The representative of the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osunbajo, the Permanent Secretary of the federal Ministry of Investment and Industries, Aliyu Aminu Bisalla, assured that government would be everything possible to diversify the economy.
He stated that, “Our local industries should also do their best to improve the quality of their products, to encourage citizens patronise local products. ”

Earlier, the President of the textile union, Comrade Oladele Osu, has identified unrestricted importation of textile materials and counterfeit as some of the problems militating against good industrialization.

“We must push the federal government to consolidate ways to see to our industrial development, ” Osu emphasised.

On his part the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, condemned a statement credites to the Minister of State, Petroleum, Mr Ibe Kachikwu, who was reported to have said it was cheaper to import petrol than to refine it locally.
“If he really said that he must withdraw the statement. If you could remember he comes from Chevron, a company that has over 60 refineries across the world, ” Wabba said.

He challenges that such people were only working for other foreign countries instead of Nigeria.