The Federal Government has taken a step towards the revitalization of the nation’s industrial base with the inauguration of a Textile Steering Committee TSC tasked with creating the framework for a new Cotton, Textile and Garment Development Board CTGDB.The move, which stems from deliberations at the 149th National Economic Council NEC meeting held in April 2025, is aimed at restoring the cotton and garment sector to its former status as a primary driver of economic growth under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.Head of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation OSGF, Dewan Nengak Goshit, disclosed this in a statement issued Thursday in Abuja.Inaugurating the committee the SGF, Senator George Akume, emphasized that industrial revitalization remains a key priority for the current administration.Represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office (GSO), Maurice Mbaeri, the SGF noted that the sector was once a pillar of the Nigerian economy.”Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, restoring the Cotton, Textile and Garment sector to its rightful place as a driver of economic growth and industrial transformation remains a key priority,” Akume stated.The SGF lamented the decline of a sector that once supported thousands of rural livelihoods and contributed significantly to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).He identified inconsistent policies, smuggling, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to finance as the primary bottlenecks that have crippled local production over the years.To remedy these, the SGF urged the committee to prioritize local content and foster public-private partnerships. He assured the members of the government’s readiness to act swiftly on their recommendations to ensure the restoration of the vital sector.The Textile Steering Committee, chaired by Mr. Abia Ifiok Bassey, Director Overseeing the Office of the Political and Economic Affairs (OSGF), includes a broad coalition of stakeholders. Representatives were drawn from the Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association (NTMA), the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN), the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN), and various research and ginning associations.The committee has been handed a comprehensive mandate, which includes reviewing previous NEC resolutions, proposing budgetary provisions and determining the regulatory powers of the proposed Board.They are also expected to recommend supportive policies that will protect local manufacturers from the intense competition of imported materials.Responding to the inauguration, the Coordinator of the Cotton, Textile and Garment Development Forum (CTGDF), Anibe Achimugu, described the event as a historic turning point for Nigerian industry.”This represents the transition from advocacy to implementation, from intention to delivery, and from aspiration to measurable national impact,” Achimugu said.He explained that the proposed Board would serve as an integrated institutional platform to coordinate policy, investment, and standards across the entire value chain.The committee is expected to prepare a final report for submission to the President, which will serve as the blueprint for the formal establishment of the Board.
