Local Content Development: Nigerian textile manufacturers allege lack of patronage

*Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association (NTMA) has expressed concern that  its members have not benefited from the implementation of Presidential Executive Order 003 since the Federal Government proclaimed it May 18, 2017

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

The Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association (NTMA) has stated that members of the association have not benefited from the implementation of Executive Order (EO) 003 since Vice-President (Prof.) Yemi Osinbajo, in his capacity as Acting President, proclaimed it May 18, 2017.

Mr. Folorunsho Daniyan, President of NTMA, who is also the President of the Nigerian Textile Garments and Tailoring Employers Association disclosed this development in an interview with ThisDay.

Nigerian textile products

The Federal Government, through Executive Order 003, has directed the MDAs to grant preference to local manufacturers in their procurement of goods and services in the country.

The EO 003 states: “Made-in-Nigeria products shall be given preference in the procurement of the following items and at least 40 percent of the procurement expenditure on these items in all MDAs of the FGN shall be locally manufactured goods or local service providers:

“(The items are) uniforms and footwear; food and beverages; furniture and fittings; stationery; motor vehicles; pharmaceuticals; construction materials and Information and Communications Technology (ICT).”

However, Daniyan noted the MDAs have ignored the products of the members of the NTMA despite several demonstrations they had carried out in order to persuade the them that they have products that meet their needs in both quantity and quality.

“The fact is that none of the agencies has purchased a meter of cloth from the Nigerian textile manufacturers.

“It was only during the COVID-19 period that a little quantity was purchased from our members. Since then, nothing has been done,” Daniya said.

He further explained that he has not fathomed the reason the Nigerian Government could not insist, “that our Armed Forces, our Police, and the Customs, etc., must patronise locally made fabrics?

“Kenya did it and is not regretting it today. If they say that our quality is not good then they will be upgraded.

“Another worrisome example is about one of our members in Zaria, the Zaria Industries. It produces tarpaulin of the highest quality that meets the military’s needs but they would not buy them from the industry. The military would rather import them.”

The NTMA President said: “Nobody has told us what is wrong. We have met the quality. They have demonstrated it.

“You know that the military operations require tarpaulin and canvas that will not absorb too much heat in order to be conducive for their operations.

“All these have been tested. The one being imported from Egypt or elsewhere is not as good as the one produced by Zaria Industries. But why is the preference to buy from outside the country?”

We’re still working on further sensitisation of government MDAs ─Minister

In response to the concern being raised by the NTMA, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Honourable Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, who is saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the implementation of the Executive Order, however, said Sunday, October 31, 2021, that the government was sensitising the Ministries, Departments and Agencies and realigning the public procurement process to ensure full achievement of Executive Order 003.

The Minister stated: “There have been achievements here, but we are still working on further sensitisation of government agencies as well as better alignment of the public procurement process to ensure full achievement of Executive Order 003.”

Otunba Adeniyi also disclosed the government is working to improve the fortunes of the textile operators by collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria “to provide specific interventions such as machinery and equipment and have instituted a seedling program that enables the provision of cotton seeds to farmers.

“We are also addressing competitiveness of the (textile) sector by working with the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources to reduce the cost of gas, which is a key cost component of the textile industry,” he stated.

Likewise, Comptroller Joseph Attah, Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in a telephone interview, noted that the regulatory agency has been complying with Executive Order 003 by sourcing its uniforms from local manufacturers.

Attah said: “The answer to your question is capital ‘YES.’ I am very sure of that. I can remember that in 2019, some people came and made presentations with textile materials and some were adopted.

“The simple answer to your question is ‘yes.’”

In his comment on the issue, Mr. Amos Okpu, Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS), reportedly said the NIS has been purchasing its uniforms from the Nigerian manufacturers long before Executive Order 003 was introduced and has continued to do so to ensure full compliance to the executive order.

He, however, declined to mention the specific local manufacturers that have been supplying the NIS its uniforms and footwares.

Okpu said he didi not have the information about the suppliers currently, report noted.

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