The Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh, has undertaken a strategic tour of key industrial sites in Kaduna state to speed up the revival efforts of the comatose textile, cotton and garment (CTG) sector.
The minister was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Rimi Abba, and the Director-General of the Bank of Industry, Dr Olasupo Olusi.
The minister, during the tour yesterday, said the tour was part of the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to industrial revitalisation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s eight-point agenda. The Agenda Seven prioritises job creation, inclusive economic growth, and industrial development.
During a visit to United Nigerian Textiles Limited (UNTL), the minister, who was received by the Emir of Kano and Chairman of UNTL, His Royal Highness Sanusi Lamido, described UNTL as a historic textile mill that once served as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.
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.
The steps taken so far include convening sub-sector stakeholder engagements to identify and resolve bottlenecks, promoting public-private partnerships and collaborating with development partners while 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.
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.
Sanusi expressed deep concern over the factory’s closure 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.
The emir highlighted the socio-economic impact of the UNTL’s collapse, particularly on youth and women, noting its contribution to rising insecurity in the region.
He appealed to the Federal Government to urgently address unreliable power supply, which severely hindered production, undermined domestic competitiveness, weakened intellectual property protection and discouraged innovation as well as investment.
