The country's slow pace at accessing gains of the African Growth and Opportunities Acts (AGOA) may have been self-inflicted, going by disclosure from a top government official.

Acting Executive Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Aliyu Lawal, has said that the exportation of of Nigerian garments to the U.S. was delayed by dearth of materials.

Lawal, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said: “African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) (Textile trainees) need large quantity of good cotton to produce the required garments.

“And we do not produce cotton in the country. The industry finds it difficult to get the kind of materials needed for garment production.

“In spite of the condition, the industry has been able to produce enough for export to the U.S.,” he added.

According to him, AGOA trainees are meant to train young Nigerians on how to produce quality Made-in-Nigeria garments.

“Such garments include T-shirts, boxers, pants and so on and the products from this factory must meet the United States’ standard and must carry Made-in-Nigeria tag,” he said.Nigeria’s first batch of shipment to the U.S. will be in this month.