The House of Representatives recently passed a motion suspending the importation of military uniforms and allied items at a cost of N4.9 billion. It also mandated its committee on Defence and Industries to ensure that uniforms and other wearing apparels for the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Customs, Immigration, Police, Civil Defence, Prisons, Fire Service and public health workers are produced locally.
The motion was sponsored by Mr. Prestige Ossy, who represents the highly industrialized Aba Federal Constituency in the House. The legislator lamented the high cost of importing the items, noting that N1.6 billion was earmarked for the items in 2015 at the exchange rate of N197 to the dollar, which came to $8.1 million. But in 2016, the same items now cost $14.1 million or N4.3 billion at the exchange rate of N305 to the dollar.
We share Representative Ossy’s misgivings about the country’s importation of simple items such as uniforms for our soldiers, paramilitary personnel and nurses. It is shameful that 56 years after independence, our industrial capacity rather than expand and improve, has contracted and shrunk to the point where we are still importing mundane items such as berets, belts, hats, shoes, cardigans and boots. While we share the House’s view on these imports, we are nevertheless disappointed that the Representatives could do no more than pass a motion suspending the purchase, knowing that such a motion cannot compel the Executive Branch to end the imports.
The House ought to have used the opportunity of Ossy’s observation to inquire into the predicament of our garment manufacturing industries and determine why they are not involved in the sewing of military uniforms in the country. The Representatives also ought to have looked into the growing de-industrialisation of the country. For instance, Nigeria’s once booming textile industry is dying and in urgent need of revival. What, for example, are the factors impeding the production of simple articles like belts, hats, stockings and nurses’ uniforms in the country? Where, exactly, is our cotton-growing industry and where are our cotton farmers?
These questions arise because there are fundamental issues militating against manufacturing industries in the country. It does not appear that the challenges facing these companies can be solved with simple prescriptions like giving more money to the Bank of Industry (BOI). We also know that many Third World countries like Egypt and Pakistan have well developed defence industries that take care of such needs for their armed forces and also supply their general population. The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) by now ought to be able to meet such simple needs. But, DICON has not fared well in this regard.
What these shortcomings indicate is that the country lacks the fundamental requirements of a manufacturing economy. The ease with which our textile companies fold up and move out of the country shows that we lack a conducive environment for manufacturing in the country. It is not possible to develop a manufacturing economy by accident. There must be a conscious effort involving adequate planning, rational investments, a good analysis of needs and deliberate initiatives to encourage indigenous participation not only in the sourcing of raw materials but also in terms of patronage. Electricity supply is at the centre of manufacturing needs. Until it is assured, manufacturing industries which have left our shores will not return.
Manufacturing ventures are not charities and they must be able to meet their costs and make some profit to survive and thrive. That is why they need incentives to resuscitate their ventures, even as they are assured of the patronage of their products by Nigerians. Financial initiatives such as tax holidays can be used to motivate manufacturers. The federal and state governments should also constantly dialogue with them to exchange ideas on how they can thrive, so we don’t have to import such things as military uniforms, boots and belts as we are doing now.