Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar revealed that Nigeria spent N5.60 billion ($20million) on the importation of jute bags by end of 2015.
Abubakar disclosed this on Tuesday,June 21, during the inauguration of Kenaf Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, held in Abuja.
Kenaf is an industrial commodity that can be grown in commercial quantity in over 20 states in Nigeria and can be used for the manufacture of bags, news prints, absorbents, bedding materials, bio-plastics and electricity generation.
Aisha said that if Nigeria developed its capacity in kenaf processing and production, jute bags can be locally manufactured thereby saving the country scarce foreign exchange. She notes that the country had the potential of becoming a net exporter of bags.
She said: “Investment in kenaf would not only create millions of jobs needed for the teeming unemployed youth but would also increase the standard of living for all stakeholders in the commodity value chain.”
The national president of the association, Hassan Abubakar, said that about 80 per cent of the kenaf plant was a multi-products money spinner.
