Chellco Industries highlights local Manufacturing strength at Domestic Investors Summit
By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.
At the sidelines of the Domestic Investors Summit held at the Afreximbank Africa Trade Centre in Abuja, the General Manager of Chellco Industries Limited, Mr. Mohan Yadav, emphasized the critical role of local manufacturing in Nigeria’s economic development while calling for greater support from government institutions.
Chellco Industries, a subsidiary of the CLR arm PLC under the over 100-year-old Chellarams Group, has been operating in Kaduna since 1978. The company specializes in the production of blankets, shawls, knitting yarn, hairdo fabrics, baby shawls, and duster cloths.
“Our products are distributed nationwide—to cities like Onitsha, Aba, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Jos, Sokoto, and Abuja. We are serving the entire country,” Mr. Yadav told reporters.
He highlighted the importance of their operations in the context of Nigeria’s large population and the country’s need to reduce import dependence. “There is no need to import blankets from abroad. Our company provides quality products locally, especially for the northern region where winters can be quite harsh. This contributes positively to the economy by saving foreign exchange,” he said.
Speaking on the relevance of the summit to Chellco’s vision, Yadav described his company as a vital player in domestic manufacturing and expressed readiness to expand operations. “In the next five years, if infrastructure like roads improves, we hope to double our current production capacity.”
He also pointed out the key challenges facing the textile industry in Nigeria, particularly illegal importation. “This is a major challenge. We are also seeking direct patronage from government agencies such as NEMA. Currently, purchases go through contractors, which doesn’t always support local industries.”
During a breakout session at the summit, representatives of the Nigeria Customs Service addressed some of the concerns raised by Mr. Yadav. The agency highlighted ongoing improvements, including the deployment of 67 border scanners aimed at enhancing clearance efficiency and reducing bottlenecks.
Yadav concluded by urging the government to introduce more industry-friendly policies. “Government support through attractive and effective policy measures is essential for industrial growth,” he said.
The summit, which gathered domestic investors and stakeholders from across Nigeria, served as a platform to promote local production, strengthen economic partnerships, and address policy-level challenges hindering investment.
