NEC approves establishment of textile, garment development board

The national economic council (NEC) has approved the establishment of a cotton, textile and garment development board.

Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo state, announced the development to state house journalists after the 149th NEC meeting, chaired by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, on Thursday at Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to NAN, Uzodinma said in order to make the board function efficiently, the council approved a proposal for public-private partnership.

He said the board’s chairman would be selected from the private sector, adding that the board would be funded from import levies on textiles.

“The National Economic Council, among other things, received representation from the members and leadership of Cotton, Textile and Garment Development Forum,” the governor said.

“These are private sector operatives who are into the cotton business, garment and textiles and the presentation highlighted their proposal on how to revitalise the cotton industry in Nigeria.

“The Council endorsed the presentation and approved the establishment of national and regional offices for the board in each of the six geopolitical zones for proper coordination.”

On his part, Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa state, said the council also received a proposal from the minister of livestock development on an acceleration strategy for the livestock industry.

Diri said the proposal was on a plan to transform the livestock industry between 2025 and 2030.

He said the strategy was built on the national livestock growth acceleration plan, which is anticipated to transform the sector to create jobs, export products, and generate revenue.

“The projection is that the strategy will generate between $74 billion down and $90 billion in that sector by the year 2035,” Diri said.

“It will be a direct partnership with the state governors, the private sector and foreign investors under a very sound federal regulatory umbrella.”

Diri added that the investment would be divided into five key pillars between 2025 and 2026.

The governor said the pillars are animal health and zone control, feed and further development, water resources management, statistics and information, and livestock value chain development.