The National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) has pleaded with the federal government to stop the importation of the China made ‘adire’ fabric, describing it as an economic sabotage.
This followed the lamentation of local traders and producers of the fabric that its importation was pushing the indigenous trade to the brink, reports Daily Trust.
Speaking in Abeokuta, Kehinde Thomas, President of NAOSS, noted that the development was also heightening the unemployment rate in the state.
He said, “We, however, find it disheartening how some economic saboteurs are working assiduously to kill this local industry by importing inferior adire fabric into the country from China.
“Importation of adire from China, if not checked, will erode the quality Itoku adire is globally noted for. Encouraging importing the imitation of locally made fabric will no doubt ruin the cultural heritage and business that has been run for generations.
“We view this as a deliberate attempt not only to squeeze life out of our local economy, but a step to throw thousands of people out of job.”
He urged the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to educate Nigerians on the importance of buying and wearing locally made adire and jettison the adulterated adire from China.
