The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission has said that the Federal Government?s Public Private Partnership initiative in the shoe and garment factory under the Nigeria Correctional Service is capable of meeting a substantial part of the uniform needs of Nigeria?s paramilitary agencies.

According to World Bank data, Nigeria had 223,000 military and paramilitary personnel in 2020.

A statement signed by the Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Ifeanyi Nwoko, on Sunday, noted that the development follows President Bola Tinubu?s directive on the procurement of locally produced goods, a key component of his administration?s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Chief Executive Officer of Erojim Investments Limited, Dr. Jimmy Ntuen, the Director General of ICRC, Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, affirmed that the Aba-based shoe and garment factory, alongside a tannery (leather processing facility) set to open in Kano, will significantly reduce Nigeria?s reliance on imports.

?With the Aba shoe and garment factory capable of producing 1,500 shoes per day, and a tannery set to open in Kano, we are confident that Nigeria can fully meet the uniform needs of our paramilitary agencies,? Dr. Ewalefoh said.

?This is not just about producing shoes and garments, it?s about creating jobs, supporting local industries, and reducing our dependency on imports in line with the President?s directive to patronise made-in-Nigeria goods.?

He added that the Renewed Hope Agenda represents more than a political promise; it is a strategic blueprint for self-reliance, local capacity development, and economic growth driven by effective PPPs.

Dr. Ntuen, CEO of Erojim Investment Ltd, the concessionaire behind the Aba facility, commended President Tinubu, the Nigerian Correctional Service, and the ICRC for their support, which he described as instrumental to the success of the project.

According to him, the Aba factory, which he described as the largest shoe factory in West Africa, boasts an installed capacity to produce 1,500 shoes and cut 10,000 garments daily.

He revealed that the facility has already supplied thousands of high-quality shoes to the NCoS and is ready to meet the needs of other paramilitary outfits.

?We can meet the local needs of government agencies, and very soon, we will begin producing for the general public,? he said.

?Our Aba factory has created over 300 direct jobs, and the new leather, shoe, and garment factory launching in three months will create an additional 340 direct jobs and over 1,500 indirect jobs.?

Ntuen also emphasised that the quality of shoes produced at the factory is comparable to global brands, affirming the potential of Nigerian craftsmanship when adequately supported. (The PUNCH)

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