The Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, has undertaken a strategic tour of key industrial sites in Kaduna to speed up the revival efforts of the comatose Textile, Cotton, and Garment (CTG) sector.
The minister was accompanied to Kaduna on Tuesday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ambassador Rimi Abba, and the Director-General of the Bank of Industry, Dr. Olasupo Olusi.
The minister said the tour was part of the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to industrial revitalisation under Agenda Seven of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 8-Point Agenda, which prioritises job creation, inclusive economic growth, and industrial development.
During a visit to United Nigerian Textiles Limited (UNTL), the minister, who was received by His Royal Highness Sanusi Lamido, Emir of Kano and Chairman of UNTL, described UNTL as a historic textile mill that once served as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.
In his remarks, the Emir expressed deep concern over the factory’s cessation of operations in 2022, attributing it to economic constraints despite its legacy of employing over 10,000 workers across the textile value chain, from spinning and weaving to printing and garment production.
He noted the socio-economic impact of UNTL’s collapse, particularly on youth and women, noting its contribution to rising insecurity in the region.
The Emir appealed to the Federal Government to urgently address unreliable power supply, which severely hindered production; infiltration of smuggled and dumped textiles, undermining domestic competitiveness; weak intellectual property protection, discouraging innovation and investment; and limited institutional support for local procurement, especially for military and paramilitary uniforms.
Senator Enoh acknowledged the concerns over the near-collapse of the sector while assuring that under President Tinubu’s leadership, several developmental strides have been made to reposition the CTG sector.
These steps taken so far include convening sub-sector stakeholder engagements to identify and resolve bottlenecks, promoting public-private partnerships and collaboration with development partners, and strengthening policy frameworks to support local manufacturing and boost export competitiveness.
He underscored the symbolic and economic importance of UNTL’s revival, stating that its return to full operation would restore confidence in Nigeria’s textile heritage and catalyse broader industrial growth.
At Chellco Industries, the Minister noted that the firm represents a resilient textile firm that has remained operational since 1980, despite decades of economic turbulence. Senator Enoh commended the management for their unwavering commitment and noted that Chellco currently provides direct employment to over 290 workers, contributing significantly to the local economy.
He pledged continued government support and conveyed President Tinubu’s goodwill, assuring stakeholders that the administration remains steadfast in its mission to restore Nigeria’s industrial pride and reposition the CTG sector as a driver of inclusive growth.
