If Buhari is coming for the queen’s funeral, he should insist that these young royal couples return with him to help promote the Nigerian fashion industry 

Ayo Akinfe 

[1] Governors of the 19 states of northern Nigeria will make land available so the country’s cotton cultivation area is increased to at least 2m hectares 

[2] Nigeria’s Bank of Industry will make loans available to all cotton farmers at an interest rate no higher than 2%

[3] Nigeria’s Arewa Textiles company will be renamed the Nigerian Textile Company and it will be privatised and floated on the Nigerian Stock Exchange as a public company. Foreign investment partners will also be sought

 
[4] Nigerian tailors will be encouraged to form the Nigerian Tailors Guild. Registered members of this guild will be the ones who get government clothing supply contracts 

[5] This Nigerian Tailors Guild will take out a stake of about 25% in the Nigerian Textile Company

 
[6] Farmers will also be encouraged to form the Nigerian Cotton Producers Association. This association will take out a stake of about 10% in the Nigerian Textile Company 

[7] It will be illegal for any government ministry, department or agency to outsource clothing supply contracts to a foreign tailor or fashion design company 

[8] Global fashion giants like Armani, Christian Dior, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Yves Saint Laurent, etc, will be given five year tax holidays and 50 year land leases if they come to open manufacturing plants in Nigeria employing a minimum of 500 people 

[9] Clothing imports will attract a 500% tax, with designer labels attracting a 1,000% import duty. Any such goods produced within Nigeria, however, will be tax-free 

[10] The Nigerian Textile Company will seek to brand and patent unique designs of our traditional attires like the agbada, isi agu, head tie, wrapper, etc