Market Place
Omolabake Fasogbon
Apparel and Accessories Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, (AAMAN) has condemned slow activity in Nigeria’s apparel sector and blamed a lack of enabling environments.
The while engaging the press in Lagos recently made a passionate plea to the federal government for waivers on imported fabrics so as to sustain operators in business while also stirring growth in the economy.
President of AAMAN, Folake Oyemade who expressed worries on the spike in crime rate in the country maintained that the situation was not unconnected to extreme poverty in the country, with over 70 million Nigerians currently living in extreme poverty according to new report.
She boasted about the capability of the sector to salvage the economy given its huge prospect, but lamented lack of investment and support for players in the industry.
She explained that as a result, manufacturers were producing at low quantity and below par, resulting in dwindling prospects.
She said: We can only talk about real manufacture and growth if we are constantly producing, but this is not the case because the environment is not enabling. China is where it’s at the moment because it is constantly producing. China began by producing continuously for its people before it experienced exponential growth.
Once we are granted waivers from duty to import fabrics, then we can stitch locally and sell to local buyers at a very reasonable price. When a price is attractive and complemented with high quality products, it is certain that the demand will be strong and continuous while the factory will remain busy.
Oyemade also asked the authority to temporarily ban the importation of certain clothing items, including boxers, round neck Polos, and t-shirts, including brands promotional and campaign tee-shirts, in order to ensure industry productivity.
She affirmed that Iike Bangaladesh, Nigeria can make a fortune of the sector as well as address many of its socio-economic challenges including unemployment and criminality.
She said, The apparel industry today remain the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP), earner for Bangladesh because of government investment in the sector. This industry has accounted for 80 percent Bangladesh’s total export over the last seven year, a huge 79 percent increase. It is today the largest exporter worldwide of garments.
