Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for a high-level working visit to the Republic of Benin, accompanied by several state governors and senior officials of the Nigerian government.
The delegation will visit the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), near Cotonou, where it will engage with representatives of the Beninese government, investors and private-sector operators involved in the development and management of the industrial hub.
The visit is aimed at strengthening the implementation of Nigeria’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme and drawing practical lessons from Benin’s approach to agricultural value addition, industrial infrastructure, investment mobilisation, skills development and export-oriented production.
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 industrial zone covers about 1,640 hectares and is designed to move agricultural commodities through the entire value chain, from the supply of raw materials to processing and the export of finished products.
The visit comes at a time when Nigeria is seeking to revive its textile industry, which remains economically significant despite years of factory closures, weak local processing and intense competition from imported fabrics and garments.
According to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s textile, apparel and footwear industry was valued at approximately ₦8.15 trillion at current prices in 2024.
The industry generated a further ₦2.45 trillion in nominal output during the first quarter of 2025.
The visit will provide an opportunity to examine how Nigeria can develop stronger linkages among cotton farmers, ginneries, spinning mills, textile manufacturers, fashion businesses and export markets.
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Nigeria has a large domestic market for fabrics, ready-made garments, school uniforms, workwear, medical textiles, footwear, home furnishings and fashion products.
Developing local capacity across these segments could reduce dependence on imports, conserve foreign exchange and create employment across farming, manufacturing, logistics, design and retail.
The delegation is also expected to explore opportunities for technology transfer, industrial training, modern machinery, reliable energy systems, shared processing facilities and stronger public-private partnerships.
These interventions are considered essential to improving the quality and competitiveness of Nigerian cotton, textiles and finished garments.
The engagement will also examine how lessons from GDIZ can support Nigeria’s agro-industrial zones, including the establishment of garment training centres and dedicated infrastructure for processing agricultural raw materials close to production communities.
The African Development Bank is already supporting plans for a garment training centre under Nigeria’s SAPZ Programme in Ogun State.
The visit aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its priorities of industrial revival, economic diversification, agricultural transformation, import substitution, job creation and the expansion of Nigeria’s non-oil exports.
Accompanying the Vice President are the governors of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma; Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal; Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang; Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Katsina State, Dikko Umar Radda; and Jigawa State, Umar Namadi.
