Shettima, governors visit Benin to strengthen Nigeria’s textile, agro-processing industry

Vice-President Kashim Shettima will on Thursday lead a delegation of state governors and senior federal government officials on a working visit to the Republic of Benin to explore strategies for revitalising Nigeria’s textile industry and strengthening agro-industrial development.

The delegation is scheduled to visit the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), near Cotonou, where it will engage officials of the Beninese government, investors and private sector operators managing the industrial hub.

According to a statement on Thursday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice-President), the visit is aimed at strengthening the implementation of Nigeria’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme by drawing practical lessons from Benin’s approach to agricultural value addition, industrial infrastructure, investment mobilisation, skills development and export-oriented production.

“The visit is aimed at strengthening the implementation of Nigeria’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Programme and drawing practical lessons from Benin’s approach to agricultural value addition, industrial infrastructure, investment mobilisation, skills development and export-oriented production,” the statement said.

Particular attention will be given to the GDIZ textile park, which operates an integrated production system covering cotton spinning, weaving, fabric processing and garment manufacturing. The 1,640-hectare industrial zone is designed to move agricultural commodities from the supply of raw materials through processing to the export of finished products.

The visit comes as the federal government intensifies efforts to revive Nigeria’s textile industry, which has suffered years of factory closures, weak local processing and intense competition from imported fabrics and garments.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s textile, apparel and footwear industry was valued at about ₦8.15 trillion in 2024 and generated an additional ₦2.45 trillion in nominal output during the first quarter of 2025.

The statement said the visit would provide an opportunity to examine how Nigeria can develop stronger linkages among cotton farmers, ginneries, spinning mills, textile manufacturers, fashion businesses and export markets.