Group Decries Negative Effects Of Second-Hand Clothes On Economy

The Lagos State Tailors and Garment Association (LASTGA) has urged the Federal Government to implement strictly, the ban on importation of second-hand clothes. 

The President of LASTGA, Chief Adebisi Daramola, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

Daramola said that strict implementation would reduce the influx of second-hand clothes into the country as well as strengthen the garments’ sector.

He said that the sector was at the risk of collapse because of the unabated smuggling of second-hand clothes.

“The association’s over 50,000 members are now wallowing in abject poverty because of the influx of second-hand clothes into the country. 

“The influx has greatly reduced the activities of our members because 80 per cent of the imports are ladies’ clothes.

“There is also the challenge of substandard cloths from Asian countries, which amounts to 10 per cent of cloths coming into the country,” he said.

According to Daramola, from the foregoing it shows that the association’s members have only 10 per cent to contend with. 

He urged the Federal Government to take a holistic look into the effects on the Nigeria economy and take a decisive action in the interest of Nigerians.

According to him, the Federal Government’s efforts to revive the textile sector have to be all embracing for it to succeed. 

‘‘We are the core or brain sector of the textile industry because we are the end users of their products. 

 ”We have to be carried along to create the market locally and for export of textile materials to survive,’’ he said. 

Daramola noted that the sector was capable of employing more than 10 million people across the country if the right policies and facilities were in place. 

“Garment and tailoring was once a booming industry in Nigeria and it employed thousands of workers. 

“The industry was producing for both the armed forces and the general public. Currently, the industry is virtually dead and has thrown thousands of youths into the unemployment market.’’

On plans to jump start activities in the sector, he said that the association would officially launch its new name and logo on April 29 at the National Stadium, Lagos. 

He noted that Gov Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State would be the Special Guest of Honour.

On the issue of unification of the multiple tailoring associations in the state, he said that it was in tandem with the Lagos State policy to have a unified body. 

The president also said that the unification was in the interest of the association to enable it to speak with one voice, pursue common interests and access government facility.