Nigeria’s Senate has recommended a total ban on textile imports as part of renewed efforts to revive the country’s moribund textile industry and restore thousands of lost jobs.
The upper legislative chamber also urged the Federal Government, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to take urgent steps toward resuscitating textile factories across the country, particularly in the Kaduna-Kano axis, to tackle unemployment, youth restiveness, and insecurity.
The resolution followed deliberations on a motion titled, “Urgent Need to Revive the Textile Industries in Nigeria with Particular Reference to the Kaduna-Kano Axis,” sponsored by Senator Sunday Katung and supported by several lawmakers, including Senators Adams Oshiomhole, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Ibrahim Khalid, and Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
For many Nigerians, the decline of the textile industry represents more than the collapse of factories. It reflects the loss of livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of workers and the fading of an industry that once powered economic growth across the country.
Presenting the motion, Katung recalled that Nigeria’s first textile mill was established in Kaduna in 1957, paving the way for rapid expansion in the 1960s and 1970s. At its peak, the country had 167 textile mills employing about 500,000 people directly, making the sector the second-largest employer after the Federal Government.
Kaduna, once known as the “Textile City,” hosted major factories including Arewa Textile Plc, Fantext Nigeria Ltd, Notext Nigeria Ltd, Super Text Ltd, and United Nigeria Textile Ltd. However, obsolete machinery, irregular power supply, and policy challenges gradually crippled the sector.
By 2007, key textile firms such as Kaduna Textiles Limited, Arewa Textiles, and United Nigeria Textile Limited had shut down completely, leaving more than 7,000 workers without jobs.
Katung lamented that Nigeria now relies on imports for over 99 per cent of its textile needs. He noted that following the lifting of the textile import ban in 2010, nearly 80 per cent of textiles sold in Nigeria now come from countries such as China, Indonesia, and Taiwan.
According to him, the development has weakened local production, reduced employment opportunities, and increased pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
Lawmakers stressed that reviving the industry would require more than an import ban. They called for a comprehensive strategy covering cotton production, modern equipment, access to working capital, and stronger support for local manufacturers.
Senator Jibrin Isa proposed a structured bailout arrangement involving existing factory owners, the Bank of Industry, and commercial banks to provide machinery and working capital.
Senator Muhammad Ogoshi Onawo said restoring the sector could help recover the estimated 500,000 direct jobs lost over the years, while creating opportunities for farmers and young people.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole blamed the industry’s collapse on what he described as ill-conceived trade policies and argued that manufacturing remains critical to achieving job-led economic growth and reducing insecurity.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized the importance of boosting cotton cultivation, pointing to successful textile industries in countries such as Ethiopia, where textile factories supply global brands and create thousands of jobs.
Meanwhile, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno advocated two key measures: an outright ban on foreign textile imports and the establishment of a special intervention fund through the Central Bank of Nigeria to support the industry’s revival.
The Senate also called on the Nigerian Customs Service to strengthen border surveillance and curb smuggling, while encouraging commercial banks and private investors to channel resources into rebuilding the sector.
Lawmakers expressed hope that a revitalized textile industry could once again become a major source of employment, industrial growth, and economic prosperity for Nigeria.
