Saraki lauds Army for buying Aba-made shoes

Senate President, Bukola Saraki has commended the Nigerian Army for its decision to purchase 50,000 pairs of shoes from local manufacturers in Aba for the use of officers and soldiers.

He said the move shows that the military is living up to its billing as an institution that can play vital roles in boosting the national economy.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said the army’s decision to patronise Made in Nigeria footwear is a good example which shows the force as a pace setter and a truly national institution which is ready to contribute its quota in ending the present economic recession in the country.

The Senate President who is a long-time champion of the Buy Made in Nigerian campaign and has been a major supporter of Aba local manufacturers urged all the other military and para-military forces like the Air Force, navy, police, civil defence corps and the National Youth Service Corps to emulate the army by immediately banning the purchase of all imported foot wears in preference for locally produced ones.

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He also urged the military and paramilitary agencies not to limit their patronage and promotion of Made in Nigeria goods to only shoes but to other items that can be sourced locally, while also praising the Air Force for the co-operation it is forging with the Innoson Motor Group in the area of manufacturing of some air plane parts.

“Patronage of Made-in-Nigeria goods is an obvious panacea for our economic problems. We will by doing that increase our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), empower our youths, challenge their creativity, increase revenue generation ability of state governments and improve on the sense of self pride and patriotism of Nigerians”, he said.

The Senate President further advised state and federal governments to encourage local manufacturers by providing them with necessary infrastructure, soft loans, patronage and helping them to improve on the quality of their goods as well as facilitating their ability to access the export market.

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