The Forum for Former Deputy Governors has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to revive local industries—particularly cocoa‑grinding plants and textile mills—to stimulate economic growth and create jobs. This recommendation was issued in a communiqué following the forum’s 4th Annual National Conference in Abuja and signed by its Chairman and Deputies, Chris Akoma, Muktar Anka, and Hazeem Gbolarumi.
The former deputy governors argue that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration should prioritize mechanisms that foster sustainable economic growth, inclusive prosperity, and genuine self‑reliance. They stress that all levels of government must invest in infrastructure, especially roads and reliable power supply, which are essential for productivity.
The communiqué highlights the need to reactivate dormant industries such as cocoa‑grinding plants and textile mills, and to pursue investments, flexible credit access, and protective tariffs. It also recommends encouraging public‑private partnerships to establish community processing centers for crops like cassava, tomatoes, and rice, thereby reducing costs, improving quality, and generating employment.
Further suggestions include collaborating with development partners to create credit facilities, provide processing equipment, and introduce storage technologies for small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) and cooperatives. The forum emphasizes prioritizing cocoa consumption for national health, training youths in cocoa farming, and enforcing the use of made‑in‑Nigeria fabric for school uniforms to boost demand for local textiles.
Additionally, the forum proposes that the government procure 100 million cocoa seedlings and promote widespread planting to create jobs and increase foreign‑exchange earnings. Former Senate President Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, former Sokoto State Governor Senator Aliyu Wamakko, and several former deputy governors echoed these calls, urging greater governmental commitment to industrial growth. The overall aim of the recommendations is to promote economic expansion, job creation, and self‑reliance in Nigeria.
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