The Gombe state Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has expressed his readiness to support the federal government’s effort at revamping cotton, textile and garment industries in the country.
Governor Yahaya declared the support in a remark during the signing of memorandum of understanding( MoU) between the armed forces, Nigerian police, paramilitary institutions, National Youth Service Corps and other uniformed services and Nigerian Textile and Garment Manufacturers Association as well as between the National Cotton Association of Nigeria and Ginners Association of Nigeria held at the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN headquarters, Abuja.
The aim of the two MoU was to guarantee steady off-take and processing of cotton lint and cotton seeds; facilitate long-term contracts with Textile and Garment companies to manufacture uniforms in Nigeria for use by various arms of Nigeria’s Uniformed services.
Governor Yahaya who called for collective action and resolve at reviving the cotton value chain, said Gombe state has since keyed into the federal government’s initiatives aimed at boosting the production of the commodity in the state.
While describing Gombe as one of the highest cotton producing states in the country, Governor Yahaya said he will continue to encourage the people of the state to embrace cotton farming in order to reap the benefits there in.
He said ” as a farmer, ginner and Governor of an agrarian state, I must commend the determination of CBN to revamp the cotton sub- sector “.
He lamented the collapse of textile industries in Nigeria, noting that “a continuous use of foreign clothes by Nigerians means a continuous drain on the nation’s economy”.
He charged that ” as a people, we must sit up, change our attitude, embrace and value our goods in order to create more jobs, generate wealth and improve our economy”.
CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele said the ceremony, was the result of almost two years of activities and consultations with key stakeholders in the Cotton, Textile and Garment value chain.
Gombe state Governor and his counterparts from Kano, Katsina, Kaduna and Zamfara states were members of Textile Revival Implementation Committee (TRIC) constituted by CBN which also had as members, the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Water Resources, Industry, Trade and Investment, the aim of which was to drive the initiative to achieve self-sufficiency in cotton production and textile materials.
Ismaila Uba Misilli
Senior Special Assistant
( Media and Publicity)