The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has revealed that the Federal Government’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), which involves expanding local shoe and garment production facilities, is poised to significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported uniforms for paramilitary agencies.
This initiative supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to prioritise locally manufactured goods—an essential pillar of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
During a courtesy visit by the Chief Executive Officer of Erojim Investments Limited, Dr Jimmy Ntuen, the Director General of ICRC, Dr Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, expressed confidence that the Aba-based shoe and garment factory, in conjunction with a soon-to-be-commissioned tannery in Kano, will significantly reduce the nation’s dependence on imported uniforms and leather products.
“With the capacity to produce 1,500 shoes daily, the Aba facility, alongside the upcoming tannery in Kano, positions Nigeria to fully supply the uniform needs of its paramilitary agencies,” Dr Ewalefoh stated.
“This initiative is not merely about manufacturing garments and footwear it’s about job creation, industrial growth, and reducing reliance on imports. It directly supports the President’s call to patronise Nigerian-made goods.”
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He further emphasised that the Renewed Hope Agenda goes beyond political rhetoric, serving as a clear roadmap for economic self-sufficiency and the strengthening of local industries through robust PPP frameworks.
Dr Ntuen, CEO of Erojim Investments Ltd, praised President Tinubu, the NCoS, and the ICRC for their commitment to the project, describing their support as pivotal to its success. He noted that the Aba factory, reputed to be the largest of its kind in West Africa, currently has the capacity to produce 1,500 shoes and cut up to 10,000 garments daily.
The factory, he revealed, has already supplied thousands of high-quality shoes to the NCoS and is prepared to meet the requirements of other paramilitary bodies. Plans are also underway to expand production to serve the general public.
“Our Aba facility has already generated over 300 direct jobs,” Dr Ntuen said. “With the imminent launch of the new leather, shoe, and garment complex in the next three months, we anticipate creating a further 340 direct jobs and more than 1,500 indirect employment opportunities.”
He also affirmed the global competitiveness of the factory’s output, noting that with adequate support, Nigerian craftsmanship is capable of rivalling international standards.
