By Ikechukwu Samuel
Governor Dauda Lawal has announced plans to create thousands of jobs for Zamfara people by reviving textile industries, cotton ginneries, and oil mills across the state.
The governor made this known after joining Vice President Kashim Shettima on an inspection of the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) near Cotonou, Benin Republic, where agricultural commodities are processed into finished and semi-finished products.
A statement by the Vice President’s spokesperson, Stanley Nkwocha, said Lawal drew practical lessons from the GDIZ model as Nigeria intensifies efforts to establish agro-industrial processing hubs, revive domestic manufacturing, and create large-scale employment for young people.
The governor noted that the Benin Republic industrial zone demonstrated how deliberate government policy, reliable infrastructure, and private-sector investment could transform agricultural economies.
Lawal explained that the GDIZ model successfully links farmers to processors, reduces the export of raw commodities, and creates jobs across agricultural and manufacturing value chains. He expressed optimism that similar strategies could be replicated in Zamfara State to revitalize the region’s agricultural and industrial sectors.
The governor said the visit revived memories of the once-thriving textile industry in his state, where factories, cotton ginneries, and oil mills previously employed thousands of people. He lamented the collapse of these industries and pledged to restore them to their former glory under his administration.
“This 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 said.
“At one point, the factory operated three shifts, with about 2,000 workers on each shift. Zamfara also had about 23 ginneries and an oil mill, where even cotton seeds were converted into oil.”
Governor Lawal emphasized that reviving these industries would not only create employment but also boost the state’s internally generated revenue and reduce dependence on federal allocations. He called on private investors to partner with the Zamfara State Government in achieving this vision.
The governor further disclosed that his administration was already working on policies to attract investment into the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. He assured that the state government would provide the necessary infrastructure and incentives to make Zamfara a hub for agro-processing in northern Nigeria.
“When the entire system is restored, farmers, processors and manufacturers will participate in the value chain, creating jobs, adding value and improving the economic conditions of our people.”
Lawal concluded by reaffirming his commitment to economic transformation and job creation, stating that the revival of textile industries, cotton ginneries, and oil mills remained a priority for his administration.
He expressed confidence that with the right policies and partnerships, Zamfara could regain its status as a leading industrial state.
The governor said the GDIZ model had strengthened his determination to restore cotton production and textile manufacturing in Zamfara.
