The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to revive the lost glory of the country’s cotton, textile and garment industry for sustainable economic development. Aisha Abubakar, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment reaffirmed this at the Textile and Garment Manufacturing Conference organised by Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) 2016 in Lagos. The minister said the government was passionate about promoting growth in the industry and across its value chain. Her government would continue to create an enabling environment to promote the ease of doing business and active participation of the private sector to boost production, she added. According to her, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Bank of Industry (BOI) have been repositioned to implement the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) goals to boost SME development in the country.

She also is said to have stressed that government initiatives toward stimulating growth in the industry included tax incentives, harmonised tax, infrastructural development and financing.