Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has unveiled an ambitious plan to revive the state's textile industries, cotton ginneries and oil mills as part of a broader strategy to create thousands of jobs and stimulate industrial growth.
The governor made the announcement after accompanying Vice President Kashim Shettima on an inspection tour of the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) near Cotonou in the Republic of Benin.
The visit formed part of Nigeria's efforts to study successful agro-industrial processing hubs capable of boosting manufacturing, creating employment and reducing dependence on exports of raw agricultural commodities.
According to Lawal, the Benin industrial zone demonstrated how deliberate government policies, reliable infrastructure and strong private-sector participation can transform agriculture into a thriving industrial value chain.
He said the experience strengthened his resolve to rebuild Zamfara's once-thriving textile industry, which previously served as one of the state's major employers.
Reflecting on the state's industrial past, Lawal recalled growing up around the textile business because his father was among the owners of the former Zamfara Textile Industry.
He disclosed that the textile factory once operated three production shifts, with each shift employing about 2,000 workers, making it one of the state's largest private employers at the time.
The governor also revealed that Zamfara previously had about 23 cotton ginneries alongside an oil mill where cotton seeds were processed into edible oil and other products.
According to him, the collapse of these industries resulted in the loss of thousands of direct and indirect jobs while weakening the state's agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
Lawal expressed confidence that restoring cotton production and textile manufacturing would reconnect farmers, processors and manufacturers through an integrated value chain capable of generating sustainable employment.
He explained that the revival would ensure agricultural products are processed locally instead of being exported as raw materials with limited economic value.
The governor noted that adding value to cotton within Zamfara would increase farmers' incomes, strengthen local industries and expand opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses.
He described the proposed revival as one of the major legacies he hopes to leave for future generations in Zamfara State.
Lawal said the industrial model he observed in Benin Republic provides a practical roadmap that can be adapted to restore Zamfara's manufacturing sector and improve the state's economy.
The governor added that when the entire production system is fully restored, farmers, processors and manufacturers will all participate in the value chain, creating jobs while increasing economic prosperity.
The inspection tour also included Governors Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina and Umar Namadi of Jigawa States.
The visit aligns with the Federal Government's broader industrial transformation agenda aimed at reviving Nigeria's cotton, textile and garment sector through increased investment, stronger value chains and expanded local manufacturing.
Analysts believe that restoring textile production in northern Nigeria could significantly boost employment, reduce import dependence and strengthen Nigeria's manufacturing competitiveness across Africa.
If successfully implemented, Lawal's proposed industrial revival could return Zamfara to its former position as one of Nigeria's leading textile-producing states while creating thousands of sustainable jobs and stimulating long-term economic development.