Textile manufacturers in Nigeria are seeking special grants from the Federal Government to revive the country’s extinct textile industry. President of the Carpet Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CMAN), Otuekong Sunny Udoh, in Calabar, at weekend, said that over 30 textile companies in Nigeria have gone moribund, taking a toll on the country’s economy.
   
According to him, over 60, 000 textile industry workers have lost their jobs and the auxiliary companies, suppliers, distributors, transporters and others, have also lost their jobs and businesses. Consequently, he said, the country has lost billions of naira.
    
The CMAN president said that the entire indigenous textile manufacturing companies, such as Jackson Devos, Aswani and many others, are no longer in existence. He pointed out that the two surviving ones are owned by foreigners. 
    
Udoh, who is the Chairman, Jackson Devo’s FZE, said: “For any economy to grow, the government, as a matter of necessity, should bring back the industries.”

He said that Nigeria is trying to encourage the revival of its private sector, especially President Bola Tinubu’s interest towards the revival of the manufacturing sector.
    
Udoh added: “Any country that does not pay attention to development of its private sector, which include small scale industries, cannot create the required and much desired employment for its citizens. This is the fate of Nigeria.
    
“Any country relying on importation of most products, which its citizens consume, cannot have a stable economy, because of certain economic deficiencies and market forces. Nigeria continues to be a dumping ground for foreign goods, as there is no encouragement from the government for manufacturers to scale their businesses.
    
“For more than 30 years, Jackson Devos has been one of the most respected manufacturing companies in Nigeria. Our products, Crown Carpet, became the leading brand across the country with our wide range of quality products, which our numerous distributors can attest to as we gain better market shares. During its heyday, Crown Carpet sold beyond the shores of Nigeria. It was much sought-after in Ghana and other West African countries.
   
“Things became bad, following the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC’s) alleged induced invasion, which led to massive destruction of our machines. The worst attack came during the military regime, led by Gen. Sani Abacha, between 1993 and 1998. As the chairman of the company, I became a scapegoat, with some of my brothers here in Cross River State, due to irreconcilable political differences.”