Protect Local Manufacturers, Students Tell FG

Students operating under the aegis of the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) have appealed to the federal government to protest the nation’s local manufacturers to boost its economic growth.

The students at a press conference addressed yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital by NAOSS national president, Comrade Kehinde Thomas expressed deep concerns over what they described as “pure act of economic sabotage”, the continuous importation of the Chinese version of the popular ‘Adire’ fabric to rival the quality ones being manufactured in Abeokuta for which many Nigerian entrepreneurs have won global laurels.

They urged the government to devise a stiffer sanction to discourage the continuous importation of “Adire” tie-and-dye fabric from China, with the principal purpose of protecting local entrepreneurs who have offered employment to thousands of citizens nationwide.

The students pointed out that should the relevant government agencies fail to stop  importation of the imitated version of the locally manufactured fabric of inferior quality into Nigerian markets, the nation’s ailing economy may not recover but be further put into ruins.

“We find it disheartening that some economic saboteurs are working assiduously to kill this local industry. We view this as a deliberate attempt not only to squeeze life out of our local economy, but a step to throw thousands of people out of jobs.

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“NAOSS as the umbrella body of Ogun State students, condemns this economic sabotage in strong terms, the huge loss of foreign exchange earnings by importing the Chinese version of the “Adire”.  “Adire” is the fabric of national identity hence efforts must be geared towards preserving it by the government.

“The Itoku Adire Market in Abeokuta which is the traditional headquarters of makers of this fabric, has also been designated as a tourist attraction where visitors both local and international citizens throng to purchase the ancient but unique fabric.

“To this end, we want to call on the federal government to move against the importers of Chinese Adire into the Nigerian markets. Measures should be put in place to protect local makers of Adire tie and dye fabric, as well as giving incentives to them with the view to promoting local content development”.