Textile manufacturers in Nigeria have asked for a special grant from Federal Government to revive the defunct textile industry.
Commenting on the current situation of the textile industry in Nigeria, the pioneer President, Nigerian Association of Carpet Manufacturers, Otuekong Jackson Udo, said more than 30 textile companies in Nigeria have gone extinct over the years and over 60,000 workers have lost their jobs while support companies, suppliers, distributors, carriers and others have their lost jobs and businesses.
Udo, told newsmen in Calabar that local textile companies such as Jackson Devos, Aswani and many others are immobile due to their executive role and fight for democracy under the NADECO government, stressing that for any economy to thrive, the government as a matter of necessity and urgency should bring back the industries which are the backbone of any economy”.
He said, “Nigeria is trying to encourage a revival of the private sector, especially given the current interest of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in revitalizing the country’s manufacturing sector.
“Any country that does not pay great attention to the development of its private sector, which includes the small scale industries, cannot create the required and much-desired employment for its citizens. This is the fate of Nigeria. The word “production” was like a mantra during the last general elections campaigns.
“Production is the manufacturing of a product to meet the needs of consumers. Any country relying on importation of most products the citizens consume cannot enjoy 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 government for manufacturers to step up their game”.
The Chairman described Jackson Devos as the most respected manufacturing company and a leading brand across the country, having existed for more than 30 years, however, he lamented that he became a scapegoat, with some of his brothers here in Cross River State due to irreconcilable political differences during the military regime led by Gen Sani Abacha between 1993 and 1998.
“My decision to support, campaign for and sponsor the agitation for enthronement of democracy in the country made those appointed into position in that military regime label me a chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition, (NADECO).
“Our company was roundly attacked, and I was lucky to escape unharmed. However, the business was destroyed, the loan facility we obtained for the expansion of our factory was used as a weapon to fight us. It was a bad time to do business in Nigeria, he narrated.
In addition, he noted that “bad policies and rapidly increasing exchange rates made it impossible to import some vital raw materials needed for our production. The acquisition of loan facility was to ensure that the company’s expansion program runs smoothly. Unfortunately, the unstable government fiscal policies affected the expansion plan adversely.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration towards its efforts to revive the manufacturing sector and suggested that the government considers providing special intervention grants to manufacturers, with proper monitoring mechanism to ensure that only companies with requisite structure and infrastructure benefit from such support.
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