New RFID tagging system for leathergoods
Leathergoods and shoes made in Aba, Nigeria, are to be
given radio-frequency
identification (RFID) tags so that the government can obtain
accurate data about the sector.
Ken Anyanwu, national secretary of the Association of Leather and Allied Industrialists of Nigeria (ALAIN) told BusinessDay: "This development was necessitated, due to unofficial export that goes on in the sector, as it has been difficult for policymakers to get accurate data to develop the sector and this is one of the issues the RFID-enabled technology, would help solve."
According to Mr Anyanwu, the country consumes around 320
million pairs of shoes each year. However, there is no data to break down how
many pairs are produced locally and how many are imported.
ALAIN hopes the data will also help local leathergoods
firms to increase production and create new jobs.
