FG to Revive Textile Industry as Import Rises $6bn Annually
The Federal Government has pledged to address the challenges facing the country’s textile industry, as $6bn worth of textiles are imported annually.
The Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, assures manufacturers of policies that will create a level playing field for local producers.
He committed to this effort on Wednesday during a visit to Sunflag Nigeria Limited, a textile manufacturing company in Lagos, as part of a three-day industrial tour.
Enoh acknowledged the textile industry’s decline while reminiscing how it once rivalled the government in employment generation and assured stakeholders of renewed government support.
“Several years ago, the textile industry competed almost fairly with the government in terms of the employment of our Nigerian people,” he remarked. “The government of President Bola Tinubu has an eight-point agenda, and almost every aspect of it is concerned with job creation. Agenda Seven is about diversifying our economy through industry and manufacturing.”
He condemned the influx of second-hand clothing and unchecked textile imports, which he described as major factors crippling the industry, noting “Three hundred containers come into this country daily, unaccounted for. They pay no duties, whereas you do, and that’s the level playing field you’re talking about.
“I have noted the few pointers you mentioned and assure you that we are determined to make a positive change and see how we can get the textile industry to once again flourish.”
Enoh announced that the Ministry of Industry would convene a session on Cotton, Textiles, and Garments within two weeks to engage stakeholders in solutions. “We need to see what needs to be done to get this sector right,” he added.
The minister assured industry players that the Tinubu administration was committed to reviving the textile sector, adding “If there is a government that will change this situation, it is the government of President Tinubu. We are determined to make a positive change and see this industry flourish again.”
He also emphasised the importance of expanding the local market and pledged continued engagement with industry stakeholders to find sustainable solutions. “This tour is necessary so we can meet you one-on-one and hear directly from you what needs to be done,” he declared.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Sunflag Nigeria Limited, Alok Bhardwaj, lamented the decline of the textile sector, revealing that employment in the industry had fallen from 250,000 in the 1980s to just 10,000 today.
“Sunflag Nigeria has been here since 1961. We have been (engaged) only in the textile manufacturing industry,” Bhardwaj noted. “When we say that we manufacture, we do not trade but only produce and we utilise everything that Nigeria has to offer. Nigerian people, land and cotton. From there we make Nigerian yarn, wool, towels, African print, school uniforms, sewing thread, suits, and fabric for the manufacturing of mattresses.
“From 1985 to 1990 we had 250,000 employees with more than 250 companies producing textiles in Nigeria. As of today, there are close to 10,000 employees. Out of the 10,000, Sunflag Nigeria employs 3,500 of them.”
Sunflag’s MD called on the government to protect the industry, citing the example of the United States. “Just like President Trump protected American workers and industries, why can’t we do the same? Nigeria imports $6bn worth of textiles annually, employing 750,000 Chinese and Indian workers while only 10,000 Nigerians work in the sector,” he asserted
Bhardwaj further explained the impact of second-hand clothing imports on local tailors, stating “About 1.5 million Nigerian tailors are affected by the influx of used clothing. If even 10 per cent of these imports are reduced, it would have a dramatic effect on employment.”
He also urged the government to implement policies that ensure local manufacturers have access to affordable energy.
“We generate 40 megawatts of electricity for ourselves, but previous agreements on gas pricing have not been fully implemented. We need government support to remain competitive,” he added.
