Delegation to inspect industrial hub as Nigeria seeks to revive textile sector.
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday travelled to the Republic of Benin on a working visit aimed at exploring strategies for reviving Nigeria’s struggling textile industry.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima is leading a delegation of six governors and top government officials to study the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), an industrial hub near Cotonou widely regarded as a successful agro-industrial model.
The delegation is expected to hold meetings with officials of the Beninese government, investors and private-sector operators responsible for developing and managing the 1,640-hectare industrial zone.
Focus on Integrated Textile Value Chain
The GDIZ operates an integrated production system that covers cotton spinning, weaving, fabric processing and garment manufacturing, transforming raw agricultural products into finished goods for export.
Governors accompanying the vice president are Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Dikko Radda (Katsina) and Umar Namadi (Jigawa).
Nkwocha said the visit is designed to support Nigeria’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme by examining how the Benin model can be replicated across the country.
“The visit is aimed at strengthening the implementation of Nigeria’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Programme and examining how the GDIZ model can be adapted to Nigeria’s agro-industrial zones, including through the development of garment-training facilities and dedicated processing infrastructure near agricultural production communities,” he said.
AfDB Support for Garment Training
The presidential aide disclosed that the African Development Bank is already backing plans to establish a garment-training centre under the SAPZ programme in Ogun State.
He said the visit comes as the federal government intensifies efforts to restore the country’s once-thriving textile industry, which has suffered years of factory closures, limited local processing capacity and stiff competition from imported fabrics and garments.
Government Targets Stronger Cotton-to-Garment Value Chain
Nkwocha said the delegation would also assess ways to strengthen the entire textile value chain by linking cotton farmers, ginneries, spinning mills, textile manufacturers, fashion businesses and export markets.
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He noted that building such an integrated system would reduce import dependence, save foreign exchange and generate employment across agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, fashion and retail.
The delegation will also study how the GDIZ has attracted investment, developed industrial infrastructure, improved workforce skills and positioned its products for export.
According to him, discussions will cover opportunities for technology transfer, industrial training, deployment of modern machinery, reliable energy supply, shared processing facilities and stronger public-private partnerships to improve the quality and competitiveness of Nigerian textiles.
Textile Industry Remains a Major Contributor
Despite its challenges, Nigeria’s textile, apparel and footwear sector continues to make a significant contribution to the economy.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows the industry was valued at about ₦8.15 trillion at current prices in 2024 and recorded an additional ₦2.45 trillion in nominal output during the first quarter of 2025.
Nkwocha said the visit supports President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on industrialisation, economic diversification, agricultural transformation, import substitution, job creation and expanding non-oil exports.
On arrival in Cotonou, the vice president was received by the country’s minister of foreign affairs, Amb. Corinne Amori Brunet, and the minister of tourism and external trade, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.