The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to revitalising key industrial hubs across Northern Nigeria, starting with the long abandoned Kaduna Textile Industry, a once thriving symbol of the region’s economic strength.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, made this announcement on Tuesday during a two-day high level dialogue on governance and public accountability held in Kaduna State.
The engagement, themed ‘Assessing electoral promises: Fostering government citizens engagement for national unity,’ brought together top federal appointees and northern stakeholders to evaluate national development progress.
Akume, who led the federal government delegation at the session, said the plan to restore the Kaduna textile sector is part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader strategy to drive industrialisation and diversify Nigeria’s economy beyond oil.
“The revival of legacy industries like Kaduna Textile is not just about nostalgia; it’s a critical step toward rebuilding the northern economy and reducing youth unemployment through manufacturing. President Tinubu remains committed to inclusive development, the North is an integral part of that vision,” Akume stated.
He revealed that the Tinubu administration has identified at least eight priority sectors for reform and expansion, with industrialisation sitting at the centre of that agenda.
According to him, rebuilding dormant textile operations could set the stage for similar initiatives across Kano, Katsina, and other parts of the northern manufacturing belt.
“The President believes strongly in reviving the economic engine of regions through targeted interventions. Kaduna used to be a major industrial hub. We want to see that return,” Akume said, describing Tinubu’s two years in office as a period of “meaningful and measurable progress.”
The interactive session was convened by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, a policy think-tank focused on advancing northern development, the forum attracted several high profile attendees, including the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaam Suleiman Ibrahim; and Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
Also present were the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), and the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali M. Ali, among others.
Stakeholders at the event underscored the need for more structured engagements between citizens and government institutions, urging transparency, speed of implementation, and equitable development across the country.