Katsina State Government has entered into agreement with BUA Group to facilitate 500 million dollars Katsina Textile and Garment Cluster that incorporates about 500 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, who approved a committee led by his deputy, Mannir Yakubu, to facilitate the initiative and determine the suitable location of 500 hectares of land for project. The government has not only waived all fees and taxes involving the state but bring its influence to bear on those involving federal government in a bid to boost diversification of the nation’s economy.

The governor further said that the multiplier effect of the Katsina Textile and Garment Cluster will go beyond Katsina and Nigeria borders, while applauding the direction and focus of the project.

BUA’s Executive Director, Kabir Rabiu, said that the conglomerate with enterprise value in excess of five billion dollars has concluded plans to invest in the cluster as part of the efforts to make the comatose textile industry viable again in Nigeria.

Rabiu disclosed that the infrastructural development of the project expected to generate over 25,000 jobs would commence soon after its ground breaking ceremony before the end of this year.

They have the resources to commence site infrastructural development as well as the anchor textile that they need to put in place within the cluster. They will divide it into two phases of 250 hectares each to get the development done as soon as possible.

A lot of companies have already indicated interest in it as the garment industry is a huge sector. Nigeria imports 23 million pairs of jeans every year.

The Executive Director of BUA, who gave snapshot of the group, revealed that Nigeria’s textile imports from China and India were valued at about four billion dollars, adding that Nigeria could fix its ailing textile sector by developing textile and garment clusters as in other countries with thriving textile industry.

The federal government has been urged to initiate incentives for textile clusters due to their huge potentials in wealth and job generation and other socio-economic development.