Lagos — The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has donated sewing machines to the Abia Government to boost shoe and garment production in Aba.

The machines are to be used at the Aba Common Facility Centre for the training of garment and leather makers in the state to enhance the quality of their products, according to Mr. Uche Oji, the Centre's Manager.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that UNIDO and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in collaboration with the Abia Government established the centre in 2008 to train people in clusters.

Oji told NAN in Aba that the machines would arrive in the state, next week, but did not specify the number of machines expected.

He said there were plans for the centre to go into commercial production of shoes, garments and other goods so as to sustain itself.

Oji said the centre had also encouraged Nigerian entrepreneurs to showcase their products at exhibitions both within and outside the country to attract recognition and markets.

"The centre will also commence production of shoes for security agencies, sandals and boots as well as T-shirts and other garments in commercial quantities as soon as the UNIDO machines are installed," he added.

He, however, said that the centre was facing many challenges, particularly poor power supply, saying that about N350,000 was spent to operate the centre on generator every month.