Stakeholders Condemn Outsourcing Production of Military Uniforms to Turkish Firm

Stakeholders in the textile and garments industry have faulted the federal government for awarding the production of military and other paramilitary uniforms to a Turkish-based company, which is said to be in partnership with DICON in Kaduna State.

They accused the federal government of reneging on its promise to patronise local manufacturers.

According to them, the development might be sound the final death knell on an industry that has been in comatose for years.

In a meeting held in Lagos, the stakeholders alleged that a memorandum of understanding to ensure the establishment of a military and paramilitary clothing factory in Kaduna was signed with a Turkish firm, Sur Corporate Wear, in Abuja on Thursday last week.

They quoted the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, to have said during the signing of the MoU that the Turkish firm was expected to develop local brand of textile materials and accessories, adding that a total of $13million (N4.68 billion) would be invested by the firm to finance the enterprise and make it viable.

Reacting to the development, the Creative Director of Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, Adenike Ogunlesi, described the development as shocking and capable of keeping the moribund industry in coma.

Ogunlesi said stakeholders had been holding meetings on how to revive the industry, and that the latest move by the government came as a shock to her.

Ogunlesi said: “When President Muhammadu Buhari directed that all uniforms shouldn’t be imported any longer, we were excited. We felt it was high time the local manufacturers built capacity.

“We have met with the military and paramilitary bodies, and they have promised to patronise us. We went as far as coming up with an MoU, they made corrections and returned it to us.”