Says Zamfara’s Cotton, Ginneries and Oil Mills Will Rise Again as Thousands of Jobs Beckon
ZAMFARA — Governor Dauda Lawal has unveiled an ambitious plan to revive Zamfara State’s once-thriving textile industry, cotton ginneries and oil mills, promising that the initiative will generate thousands of jobs, stimulate economic growth and restore the state’s position as one of Nigeria’s industrial powerhouses.
The governor made the declaration after accompanying Vice President Kashim Shettima on an inspection tour of the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) near Cotonou in the Republic of Benin, a world-class agro-industrial hub where cotton, cashew, soybeans and other agricultural produce are transformed into finished and semi-finished products.
According to a statement issued by the Vice President’s spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, the visit forms part of Nigeria’s renewed drive to establish modern agro-processing hubs, revive local manufacturing, reduce dependence on raw commodity exports and create sustainable employment opportunities for millions of Nigerians.
Speaking after the tour, Governor Lawal described the Benin Republic’s industrial model as a powerful example of what visionary leadership, sound government policies, modern infrastructure and strong private-sector investment can achieve.
He noted that the integrated industrial zone provides a practical roadmap for reconnecting farmers with processors, strengthening local manufacturing and expanding agricultural value chains capable of transforming rural economies.
The governor said the visit rekindled memories of Zamfara’s glorious industrial past when textile factories, cotton ginneries and oil mills served as major employers and economic lifelines for thousands of families.
“This visit takes me down memory lane because I grew up around this industry. My father was one of the owners of the Zamfara Textile Industry,” Lawal recalled.
He revealed that at its peak, the Zamfara Textile Industry operated three production shifts daily, employing nearly 6,000 workers, while the state also boasted 23 cotton ginneries and an oil mill where cotton seeds were processed into edible oil and other valuable products.
Governor Lawal said the success of the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone has strengthened his resolve to restore Zamfara’s textile sector and reposition the state as a leading centre for cotton production and agro-industrial manufacturing.
“This visit has given me a clear pathway. Reviving this industry is one of the legacies I want to leave in Zamfara State, and I am determined to make it a reality,” he declared.
The governor emphasized that restoring the entire cotton value chain—from farming to processing and manufacturing—would unlock enormous economic opportunities, create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, increase farmers’ incomes and accelerate industrial development across the state.
“When the entire system is restored, farmers, processors and manufacturers will all participate in the value chain, creating jobs, adding value to our agricultural products and improving the economic well-being of our people,” he added.
The inspection tour was attended by several state governors, including Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Dikko Umar Radda (Katsina) and Umar Namadi (Jigawa), underscoring growing national interest in adopting successful industrial models to drive Nigeria’s economic diversification and employment agenda.
The proposed revival of Zamfara’s textile industry is expected to boost local cotton production, attract fresh investments into manufacturing, strengthen rural livelihoods and position the state as a major contributor to Nigeria’s industrial renaissance.
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