UK offers to train staff at planned Calabar garment plant under diversification plans

BRITAIN has expressed a willingness to train the needed manpower to enable the take-off of a new garment factory in the Cross River State capital Calabar as part of a major industrialisation programme aimed at reducing Nigeria's dependence on crude oil.

 

With crude oil prices just over $30 a barrel compared with in excess of $100 last year, Nigeria has had to desperately look for other ways of generating revenue, given that petroleum accounts for over 70% of government revenue. New Cross River State governor Ben Ayade has been at the forefront of plans to diversify the economy with several brave initiatives.

 

Chinese heavy vehicle manufacturer Sino Truck has completed arrangements to establish an assembling plant Calabar and Irish property developer Affordable Building Concept International has announced plans to construct 5,000 units across the state. This new garment factory is expected to open next month and the British government has volunteered to help train the workforce.

 

Paul Arkwright, the British high commissioner to Nigeria, recently inspected ongoing work at the project site where he lauded the efforts of Governor Ayade in initiating the project. He said that he would be willing to bring in expatriates from Britain to train the factory’s workforce in some critical areas of textile-making, to build the needed capacity and create the desired jobs.

 

Mr Arkwright added he had been talking to Governor Ayade about the UK helping in creating employment opportunities and growth through aggressive entrepreneurship training programmes. It is not yet clear if the training will be concluded before the March opening date or if it will happen after the commissioning of the factory.

 

Governor Ayade said: “The partnership with the UK is a strong partnership and we are hopeful that with commitment to training and guaranteed technical competence, Nigeria can maximise its potential in the garment sub-sector of the economy.”

 

Disclosing that the state, under a partnership agreement, is building the biggest garment factory in Africa, among other things, Governor Ayade said the amount of manufacturing created in Cross River will be so huge that the haulage component will be massive. He further disclosed that the Cross River State government is building a new city dedicated to haulage and is also committed to building a strategic petroleum and gas reserve.