The House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to stop the importation of adire/kampala and other local fabrics in order to safeguard the local market and generate foreign currency for the country.
The decision of the House came after the approval of the motion titled, “Call to revive and promote the traditional fabric industry of Adire/Kampala to boost the nation’s cultural heritage, presented by a member representing Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, Ogun State, Afolabi Afuape.
Presenting the motion, the lawmaker highlighted the historical importance of Adire/Kampala (tie-and-dye) fabrics in Nigeria while stressing the need to safeguard and encourage local production to preserve the nation’s cultural heritage.
He stated, “The House acknowledges that Nigeria’s Adire/Kampala fabric industry is vital for economic growth, cultural preservation, and promoting entrepreneurship among citizens, particularly the youth.
“The House notices that the influx of foreign imitations of adire/kampala into Nigeria’s market has had a negative impact on the local industry, causing a decrease in the livelihood of local producers and loss of jobs”
The lawmaker also cautioned that if consumers are not protected from imitations of Adire/Kampala products from foreign markets, it could have serious consequences for the Nigerian local cottage industry.
He requested the House to instruct the Committee on Commerce to work with the National Directorate of Employment to establish formal training and orientation programs on skills, quality control, marketing, and business management for all local fabric producers and to oversee the relevant agencies responsible for evaluating the regular progress of the Nigerian cottage industry.
When the motion was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, who led the plenary session, it received unanimous support from members.
Following the approval of the motion, the House directed the Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics, and Values, in partnership with the National Orientation Agency, to launch a nationwide campaign to promote the cultural significance of Adire/Kampala and other locally produced fabrics, and to support locally produced fabrics.
