Shettima leads six governors on working visit to Benin Republic

Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima departed Abuja on Thursday for a working visit to the Republic of Benin, leading a delegation of six state governors and senior government officials. The mission's primary objective is to study Benin's Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) to inform the revival of Nigeria's textile industry.

The delegation will visit the GDIZ near Cotonou, engaging with Beninese government representatives, investors, and private-sector operators. This industrial hub operates an integrated production system encompassing cotton spinning, weaving, fabric processing, and garment manufacturing, managing the entire value chain from raw materials to finished goods for export.

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The visit is aimed at strengthening the implementation of Nigeria’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Programme and examining how the GDIZ model can be adapted to Nigeria’s agro-industrial zones, including through the development of garment-training facilities and dedicated processing infrastructure near agricultural production communities.

According to a statement by Shettima's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, the visit aims to strengthen Nigeria's Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Programme. The delegation will examine how the GDIZ model can be adapted for Nigeria, including developing garment-training facilities and processing infrastructure near agricultural production areas. The African Development Bank is already supporting a garment-training center within Nigeria's SAPZ program in Ogun State.

The visit occurs as Nigeria seeks to rebuild its significant textile industry, which has faced challenges from factory closures, weak local processing, and competition from imports. The Nigerian textile, apparel, and footwear industry was valued at approximately N8.15 trillion in 2024. Officials hope that developing a stronger value chain will reduce import dependence, conserve foreign exchange, and create employment across various sectors.

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The visit comes at a time when the Federal Government is seeking to rebuild a textile industry that remains economically significant despite years of factory closures, weak local processing and intense competition from imported fabrics and garments.