Minister commends Nobel carpets and rugs for advocating made in Nigeria products

Lucky Fibres, Makers of Nobel carpets and Rugs have been showered with commendations from the Honourable Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Investment, Hajia Aishat Abubakar on Monday during an assessment visit to Lucky Fibres multi billion naira factory in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

While inspecting the production facilities, Abubakar expressed satisfaction in the fact that the carpets and rugs are produced in Nigeria and exported to neighbouring countries like Ghana, Republic of Benin and Ethiopia, to mention a few.

Speaking about the company's challenges in meeting international standards, Mrs Kemi Ajibade, Senior Head of Human Resources, Lucky Fibres Limited, lamented the impact of smugglers' activities, who take advantage of Nigeria's porous borders in importing substandard carpets and rugs into the country.

According to Ajibade,

"an average Nigerian does not know the difference in substandard and quality carpets, but will rather buy what is affordable in the market even if it does not serve for a long time. We urge Government to assist us in addressing the activities of smugglers. If you visit Alaba Market, you will see different kinds of substandard carpets and rugs being displayed for sale.

"We import some of our production materials like polypropylene (PP) because local manufacturers could not meet the quality that our machine can work with. The machine is the latest in the industry and only works with high quality fibres.

"Local manufacturers of polypropylene in Nigeria usually complain that we are the only manufacturer in the sub sector of the Nigerian textile industry who demands for that quality because we want the best for our people. And since we cannot consume a large quantity of their quality polypropylene alone, they prefer to produce the substandard which is in popular demand."

However, the minister assured the company of improvement in ensuring that all textile products are of good quality to meet international standards, urging the Lucky Fibres top management team to device means to work with local manufacturers in order for the country to achieve the made in Nigeria vision.

"You need to exercise more patience because we don't want to address a part of the problem, but a holistic approach is being put in place. It is not just this sector, but for all sectors.

"You manufacturers should also be watchdogs for one another because Government might not see all the lapses. But when you identify any challenge that threatens your work, approach us and let us see what we can do to help," she noted.

The minister therefore advised industries to look inward in order to achieve the made in Nigeria products vision.

In his remarks, General Manager, Lucky Fibres, JiteshPamnani, thanked the Minister for the inspection and promised that the company will continue to put in the best machine, technology and manpower to keep the industry flourishing.

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