The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, has reiterated its commitment to developing a robust policy framework aimed at boosting Nigeria’s Cotton, Textile, and Garment (CTG) sector and reducing the country’s dependency on imported clothing.
This initiative seeks to bring back up to $4 billion currently spent on textile imports, stimulating economic growth, creating jobs, and promoting local manufacturing.
Senator John Owan Enoh, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, made this announcement at a high-level stakeholder engagement in Abuja on Wednesday. The event, themed “Co-Creating Solutions to Grow Nigeria’s CTG Industry,” brought together key players in the sector to discuss its future.
During the event, stakeholders highlighted the unsustainable $4 billion Nigeria spends annually on clothing imports and urged the government to prioritize local production as part of efforts to diversify the economy and revitalize industrial activity.
Adenike Ogunlesi, president of the Garment and Accessories Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, underscored the need to focus on garment manufacturing, arguing that it is the primary driver of the entire CTG value chain. She noted that despite numerous interventions, Nigeria’s textile industry remains fragmented and underperforming.
“Garment manufacturing should be viewed not just as the final product, but as the foundation of a value chain that can transform Nigeria’s industrial sector,” Ogunlesi stated.
In response, Minister Enoh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting locally made products and rejuvenating the textile sector.
He announced plans for a national campaign to promote local garment production across government ministries and agencies, citing Ogun State’s initiative requiring public workers to wear Nigerian-made clothing once a week.
The Minister also assured stakeholders that the government would collaborate with institutions like the Bank of Industry to enhance access to financing and machinery for textile and garment businesses.
He further pledged to personally lead the campaign, stating that once it begins, he would exclusively use a Nigerian-assembled car as an example of local support.
“The reality is that garment manufacturing drives the entire value chain,” Enoh explained, pointing to the successes of countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Kenya, which developed strong garment export markets before investing in cotton farming and textile production.
Enoh emphasized the need to transition from policy formulation to action, calling for greater unity, reduced fragmentation, and a renewed sense of urgency to revive Nigeria’s textile industry.
Once a leader in the sector, Nigeria’s textile industry boasted over 180 mills operating at more than 50% capacity and employed over 500,000 people from the 1950s to the 1980s.
This initiative marks a critical step in the government’s efforts to reduce reliance on textile imports and foster the growth of local manufacturing.