Shettima visits Benin for textile revival
Analysis based on 37 articles · First reported Jul 23, 2026 · Last updated Jul 26, 2026
The visit signals Nigeria's commitment to industrial revival and import substitution, which could boost investor confidence in the textile and agro-processing sectors. Successful replication of Benin's model may reduce Nigeria's reliance on imported fabrics, conserve foreign exchange, and create jobs, positively impacting the economy.
Vice President Kashim Shettima led a Nigerian delegation including six state governors to the Republic of Benin on a working visit from July 23-25, 2026. The delegation toured the Benin — Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) near Cotonou, an integrated industrial hub covering 1,640 hectares that processes cotton, cashew, and soybeans into finished products. The visit aimed to draw lessons for Nigeria's Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Programme and revive Nigeria's struggling textile industry, which was valued at ₦8.15 trillion in 2024. Shettima emphasized Africa's need to control its resources and add value locally, noting that Africa benefits from only about 1% of the global cotton industry worth $370 billion. The African Development Bank is supporting a garment-training centre in Ogun State under Nigeria's SAPZ programme.
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