THE Senate has asked the Federal government to as a matter of urgency, ban all foreign textile materials into the country as part of moves to encourage local production of cotton and the revival of dead textile industries across the country.

The Senate has called on the Federal Government, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Trade and Investment as a matter of urgency to ensure the revival of the Textile Industries in Nigeria as this will further create job opportunities for the unemployed population of our Country thereby addressing youth restiveness and attendant insecurity.

The Upper chamber has urged the Federal Government to provide additional funds to the Bank of Industry, BOI to be dedicated to textile industries in order to revive the textile sector.

The Upper Chamber has also asked the Federal government to through the Ministry of Agriculture encourage the farming of cotton since no cotton, no textile industries.

Resolutions of the Senate on Tuesday were sequel to a motion titled, “Urgent Need to revive the Textile Industries in Nigeria with particular reference to the Kaduna-Kano axis.”

It was sponsored by Senator Sunday Marshall, Katung, APC, Kaduna South and Co- sponsored by Senators Adams Oshiomole, APC, Edo North; Senator Tahir Monguno, APC, Borno North; SenatorMustapha Khalid, Kaduna North; Senator Mustapha Khabeeb, APC, Jigawa South West and Senator Natasha Akpoti- Udughan.

Others are Senator Kawu Abdurrahman Suleiman, APC, Kano South; Senator Simon Lalong Simon, Bako, Plateau South; Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Sokoto South; Senator Babangida Hussaini, APC, Jigawa North-West and Senator Dandutse Mohammed, APC, Katsina South.

Details later…

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has warned that plans to significantly increase excise duties on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) could threaten a sector responsible for about 33 per cent of the nation’s manufacturing output and over 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs.

In a statement on Tuesday, Director General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, speaking on behalf of operators in the Non-Alcoholic Drinks (NAD) sector, urged the Federal Government to adopt a balanced, evidence-based and coordinated approach to excise taxation.
The warning follows proposals contained in the Customs and Excise Tariff etc. (Consolidation) Act Amendment (CETA) Bill 2025, which seeks to replace the current specific excise rate of N10 per litre on sugar-sweetened beverages with a percentage levy based on retail prices.

Ajayi-Kadir said the proposed measure, if implemented, could undermine industrial growth, job creation, investor confidence and broader macroeconomic stability.

According to him, the non-alcoholic drinks industry remains one of the most resilient segments of Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, supporting extensive value chains across production, logistics, agriculture, retail and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“The sector currently accounts for approximately 33 per cent of manufacturing output and sustains over 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs. Any fiscal policy that significantly increases the tax burden on the industry will have far-reaching consequences across the economy,” he said.
Ajayi-Kadir noted that manufacturers in the sector already remit between 40 and 45 per cent of their gross revenues in taxes, placing them close to the upper limit of sustainable taxation.

While acknowledging government efforts to address non-communicable diseases (NCDs), he argued that policy interventions should reflect Nigeria’s consumption realities and be guided by empirical evidence.

He stated that Nigeria’s annual per capita sugar consumption stands at about 7.1 kilogrammes, which is within levels recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), adding that beverages account for only a small proportion of overall sugar intake.
“There is no conclusive empirical evidence identifying sugar-sweetened beverages as the primary driver of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria, which are widely recognised as being influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, lifestyle, environment and broader dietary habits,” he said.

The MAN DG further expressed concern that the proposed amendment could conflict with the recently introduced Fiscal Policy Measures (FPM) 2026–2028 framework, creating uncertainty for investors and weakening medium-term industrial initiatives such as the Nigeria First Policy and the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP II).

He also argued that introducing a retail price-based excise system alongside the existing per-litre charge would create legal, administrative and enforcement challenges, given that Nigeria’s current excise framework is based on ex-factory or ex-warehouse pricing.

Ajayi-Kadir urged the government to pursue a coherent and predictable excise regime that supports revenue generation and public health objectives without jeopardising industrial growth, employment and economic stability.

According to Egyptian journalist Ahmed Mubarak, Al-Ittihad has offered Salah an astronomical annual salary of £65 million.

Salah, 33, will leave Liverpool as a free agent this summer. This season, he made 41 appearances for the Reds, contributing 12 goals and 10 assists.

According to Egyptian journalist Ahmed Mubarak, Al-Ittihad wants to sign Salah on a free transfer and has already offered the Egyptian star a three-year contract with an after-tax annual salary of up to £65 million. This means that, without counting sponsorship income, image rights earnings, or commercial bonuses, Salah could receive a basic salary of £195 million over three years.

The report further states that if all the incomes mentioned in the report are added up, Salah’s contract would exceed the total salary of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr.