Collapse of textile companies led to increase in crime – Agric minister

The Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, has disclosed that the collapse of 145 textile industries has led to increase in crime in Kaduna, Lagos, Onitsha, among other places.

Nanono made the disclosure in Lafia, capital of Nasarawa State, when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Abdullahi Sule at the Government House on Monday.

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He said, “The collapse of 145 textile companies across the country, especially in Kaduna, Lagos and Onitsha, and the reduced demand for cotton has led to crimes.

“Textile was the largest employer in the country before the collapse of the sector which led to lay-offs, closure of the companies, poverty and hardship led to increase in crimes.”

The minister further said Nigeria had to strive and embrace agricultural mechanisation for it to feed its people as that in the next 30 years the population was forecast to reach 400 million.

He added that Nigerians had to live together in peace to make the country vibrant and that ranching was in top gear for the millions of livestock in the country.

Governor Sule told the minister that the state was happy with “your contributions to the sector and for carrying the state along.”

He said Nasarawa was proud of farmers of both rainy and dry seasons and would embrace agricultural mechanisation to feed the nation and export.