Zamfara governor unveils plan to revive textile industry, cotton ginneries and oil mills
By Aboki Forex —
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has announced plans to revive the state's textile industry, cotton ginneries and oil mills, a move he says will create thousands of jobs and boost the local economy. He made the announcement after touring the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone in the Republic of Benin with Vice President Kashim Shettima and other state governors.
Industrial zone tour
Governor Lawal joined Vice President Shettima on an inspection visit to the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) near Cotonou in the Benin Republic. The facility processes cotton, cashew nuts, soybeans and other agricultural commodities into finished and semi-finished products.
According to a statement issued by the Vice President's spokesperson, Stanley Nkwocha, the visit was part of Nigeria's drive to develop agro-industrial processing hubs, strengthen local manufacturing and expand employment opportunities, particularly for young people.
Lawal described the Benin industrial zone as a practical example of how coordinated government policies, dependable infrastructure and private-sector investment can transform agriculture into a thriving industrial value chain. He noted that the model connects farmers with processors, reduces dependence on exporting raw commodities and encourages local value addition while creating sustainable employment.
Memories of Zamfara textile industry
Reflecting on Zamfara's industrial history, the governor recalled the state's once-booming textile sector, which supported thousands of livelihoods through textile factories, cotton ginneries and oil mills.
"This visit brought back memories because I grew up around the textile industry. My father was one of the owners of the Zamfara Textile Industry," he said.
Lawal explained that at its peak, the textile factory operated three shifts daily, with each shift employing about 2,000 workers. He added that Zamfara also had approximately 23 cotton ginneries alongside an oil mill where cotton seeds were processed into edible oil.
Plan for the cotton and textile value chain
The governor said the visit had strengthened his resolve to restore cotton farming and textile production in the state, describing the initiative as one of the lasting legacies he hopes to leave behind.
According to him, rebuilding the entire production chain, from farming to processing and manufacturing, will create thousands of jobs, increase local value addition and improve the livelihoods of residents across Zamfara.
Lawal added that revitalising the sector would provide new opportunities for farmers, processors and manufacturers while boosting the state's economy.
Other governors on the tour
Other governors on the inspection tour included Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina State and Umar Namadi of Jigawa State.
For Nigerian businesses, the plan signals a push toward local value addition in agriculture. If Zamfara's cotton and textile chain returns to life, it could reduce the export of raw materials and keep more processing activity within Nigeria, a model that supports job creation and strengthens the domestic economy.