Shettima Leads Governors to Benin for Industrial Visit

On Thursday, Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed Abuja for a high-level working visit to the Republic of Benin, accompanied by six state governors: Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Dikko Umar Radda (Katsina), and Umar Namadi (Jigawa). The delegation aims to visit the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) near Cotonou to engage with representatives of the Beninese government and private-sector operators involved in the industrial hub's development.

This visit is intended to strengthen Nigeria's Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Programme and learn from Benin's agricultural value addition and industrial infrastructure. The GDIZ textile park, which integrates cotton spinning, weaving, fabric processing, and garment manufacturing, will be a focal point.

The Nigerian textile industry, valued at approximately N8.15 trillion in 2024, faces challenges from factory closures and competition from imports. The visit aims to explore technology, training, and partnerships to enhance Nigeria's textile sector.