The Government of Nigeria has unveiled a new National Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) Policy aimed at revitalising and boosting the development and growth of the country’s cotton, textile and garment industry.
Launching the policy in Abuja, minister of industry, trade and investment Olusegun Aganga said the policy was a product of prolonged and comprehensive consultations with all stakeholders in the industry, and it has set a target of achieving US$ 3 billion annually from textile exports.
According to him, the CTG policy would improve the quality, quantity, production capacity, marketing and competitiveness of the players across the entire value chain, while controlling the influx of sub-standard textiles and apparel into Nigeria.
As per the CTG policy, raw cotton production in Nigeria is expected to be increased from 200,000 tonnes in 2003 to 500,000 tonnes by the end of 2015.
The new policy necessitates that all military and para-military institutions and government-owned institutions purchase only made-in-Nigeria fabrics in order to boost local patronage and support the growth of the value chain across the entire CTG industry.
“This is the first time in the history of the country that we have a comprehensive policy that cuts across the entire value chain – from farm to fashion. Also, the policy addresses the major problems militating against other sectors like power, smuggling and counterfeiting,” Aganga said.
“The policy also addresses the issue of skill development. We must turn our quantity to quality. It also addresses the issue of affordable finance, electricity, standards and local patronage,” he added.
He informed that the new policy is expected to increase the contribution of the CTG sector to Nigeria’s gross domestic product by raising the number of people employed in the sector from mere 24,000 at present to 100,000 by 2017.
Senator Walid Jibrin, chairman of Nigeria Textile Manufacturers Association, said that it was the first time in more than 40 years that Nigeria has a truly realistic and comprehensive policy for the textile sector. (RKS)
