***Promise to replicate GDIZ success as Nigeria pushes agro-industrial zones to boost value addition, revive textiles

Six state governors have pledged to replicate key elements of the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) in the Republic of Benin as Nigeria accelerates plans to establish agro-industrial processing hubs aimed at reviving manufacturing, reducing raw commodity exports and creating jobs across the country.

The governors made the commitment after accompanying Vice President Kashim Shettima on an inspection tour of the integrated industrial zone near Cotonou, where cotton, cashew nuts, soybeans and other agricultural commodities are processed into finished and semi-finished products for regional and international markets.

The delegation comprised Governors Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Dikko Umar Radda (Katsina) and Umar Namadi (Jigawa).

The governors said the Benin model illustrated how coordinated government policies, modern infrastructure and private-sector investment could transform agriculture into a thriving industrial ecosystem by linking farmers with processors, strengthening value chains and generating sustainable employment.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara described the visit as an African peer-learning mission designed to help Nigerian states adopt proven industrial models while avoiding costly policy mistakes.

“Nigeria is on the verge of developing industrial processing zones across the federation. We previously visited Ethiopia to study what they had done, and we are now in Benin Republic to learn from both the challenges and the successes of this industrial zone,” he said.

“We have examined the cotton, cashew and soybean value chains. What we have seen has been a tremendous success, and we will take these lessons back to Nigeria as we implement our own projects.”

He noted that participating states were partnering the Federal Government and development finance institutions, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), to provide infrastructure for the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme, whose first phase covers seven states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi said the visit had strengthened his conviction that value addition through agro-processing remained the surest path to industrialisation and youth employment.

“What we have seen here is very encouraging, both for us as a country and as a state. We have learnt many things that will help us industrialise Jigawa and create sustainable jobs for our young people.

“With the adoption of this concept and the implementation of the SAPZ programme in Nigeria, Jigawa will be able to add value to its agricultural products and create more opportunities for its people,” he said.

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara said the visit rekindled memories of the state’s once-vibrant textile industry, where textile mills, cotton ginneries and oil mills employed thousands before the sector collapsed.

“This takes me down memory lane because I grew up around this industry. My father was one of the owners of the Zamfara Textile Industry,” Lawal recalled.

“At one point, the factory operated three shifts, with about 2,000 workers on each shift. Zamfara also had about 23 ginneries and an oil mill, where even cotton seeds were converted into oil.”

He said the success of the GDIZ had reinforced his resolve to restore cotton production and textile manufacturing in Zamfara.

“This visit has given me a clear pathway. Reviving this industry is one of the legacies I want to leave in Zamfara State, and I am determined to make it a reality.

“When the entire system is restored, farmers, processors and manufacturers will participate in the value chain, creating jobs, adding value and improving the economic conditions of our people,” he added.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma stressed the need for African countries to deepen cooperation and build industries around their comparative advantages to unlock economic growth and employment.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for mandating Vice President Shettima to lead the delegation, describing the visit as a practical step towards delivering the administration’s industrialisation agenda.

“We are satisfied with what we have seen. If this model is properly adapted in Nigeria, with every state building around its comparative advantage, we will create the prosperity and employment opportunities our people need,” Uzodimma said.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda offers a pathway for addressing poverty, expanding production and leaving lasting economic legacies for future generations.”

Governor Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina said the production model demonstrated at GDIZ could be successfully replicated in Nigerian states with strong agricultural potential.

“What we have seen today is achievable in our states. Katsina is one of Nigeria’s major cotton-producing states, and we are also doing well in soybean production,” he said.

“We have both comparative and competitive advantages in these commodities. By applying the lessons from this zone, we can create jobs for our young people, generate wealth and build stronger links between agriculture and industry.”

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang described the industrial zone as compelling evidence that deliberate planning and political commitment could transform economic ideas into productive enterprises.

“What we have seen is something that has moved from an idea to reality. The lesson is that this kind of success requires intentionality. It cannot happen by chance. It requires political will and the appointment of the right people to drive the process,” Mutfwang said.

He added that Nigeria possessed abundant agricultural resources and should focus on processing rather than exporting raw commodities.

“We came with the Vice President to see a practical demonstration of what we have been discussing. This aligns with the President’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy. That ambition must be driven by production, processing and a firm belief that Nigeria has the capacity to achieve it,” he said.