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Council Observes Silence for Benue, Plateau Victims

The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the establishment of a Cotton, Textile and Garment Development Board, alongside a comprehensive agribusiness and livestock development plan projected to generate up to $90 billion by 2035.

The NEC, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, also greenlit the establishment of the Green Imperative Project (GIP) national office in Abuja, with regional offices planned across the six geopolitical zones. 

The council further resolved to address the crises arising from the current animal husbandry practices in the country.

At its 149th meeting held on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the NEC observed a minute of silence for the victims of the recent killings in Benue and Plateau States. 

The council expressed its condolences to the people and governments of the affected states.

The approved Cotton, Textile and Garment Development Board will serve as the regulatory body for the sector. 

It will feature governors representing the six geo-political zones, as well as the ministers of agriculture and food security, budget and economic planning, and industry, trade and investment. 

The board will be domiciled in the presidency, be private sector-driven with relevant public sector stakeholders, and be funded from the textile import levy collected by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

During the meeting, Vice President Shettima urged council members to make bold decisions. “We must resist the temptation of grand rhetoric and embrace the hard work of reform,” he said.

“The nation is watching. Our citizens are not waiting for another speech. They are waiting for results. This Council must remain a meeting point of ideas that move the nation forward. Let us rise above partisan interests and regional divisions and focus on what truly matters—building a nation that delivers for all.”

Shettima emphasised the urgency of the council’s work: “We are not here for a mere routine but by the resolve to confront the pressing realities that define the lives of our people.” 

He added, “We are not merely responders to crises. We are architects of a sustainable future.”

On the new Cotton, Textile and Garment Development Board, the Vice President noted its importance to the President’s economic agenda. 

“This is a call to resuscitate a sector that once clothed the people and powered the nation’s economy,” he stated, lamenting the current state of cotton production: “We currently produce only 13,000 metric tonnes, while we continue to import textiles worth hundreds of millions of dollars. This is not just an economic imbalance. It is an invitation to act.”

He outlined the board’s mandate: “Our goal is not just regulation. It is a revival. This is our opportunity to re-industrialise, to empower communities, and to restore pride in local production.”

Regarding food security, VP Shettima said, “We are building a national food economy that is inclusive, efficient and sustainable.”

He also called for a “field visit by the NEC Implementation Monitoring Committee” to ensure effective policy execution. “Our people do not evaluate us by the elegance of our policies but by the evidence of their impact,” he said.

Other Key Decisions

• The Accountant-General of the Federation provided updates on account balances: Excess Crude Account (ECA) balance as of April 2025 – $473,754.57; Stabilisation Account balance – N63,535,835,786.60; and Natural Resources Development Account balance – N72,858,962,913.29.
• The Minister of Education presented a plan to equip 5 million youths with income-generating, industry-relevant, and entrepreneurial skills by 2030 through the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) initiative. The NEC lauded the government’s commitment to TVET and urged state governors to participate, regardless of political affiliation.
• The Ministry of Livestock Development presented the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), projecting a $74B – $90B sector by 2035. The strategy will focus on animal health, feed and fodder development, water resources management, statistics and information systems, and breed improvement. The NEC endorsed the strategy, particularly its focus on addressing the challenges posed by the current animal husbandry system.