Nigerian Senate Pushes For Import Ban To Revive Domestic Textile Industry
The Nigerian Senate has called on the Federal Government to consider restricting imports of foreign textile materials as part of a broader strategy to revive the country’s struggling textile sector, strengthen local manufacturing and boost cotton production.
The resolution followed the adoption of 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 (APC, Kaduna South) and supported by lawmakers across party lines.
Lawmakers stressed that revitalising the textile industry could play a key role in job creation, youth employment and efforts to address rising insecurity, particularly in industrial regions such as Kaduna and Kano.
Moving the motion, Senator Katung highlighted the historical significance of Nigeria’s textile sector, noting that the first major textile mill was established in Kaduna in 1957. He recalled that during the 1970s and 1980s, the industry flourished, supported by protective trade policies, with around 167 mills operating nationwide and employing over 500,000 people.
However, he noted that the sector has since experienced a steep decline due to factors including outdated machinery, weak access to financing, unreliable electricity supply and inconsistent government policies. These challenges, he said, have left many factories closed and significantly weakened domestic production capacity.
Senators supporting the motion argued that targeted government intervention is urgently needed to restore competitiveness, reduce dependence on imports and rebuild the textile value chain from cotton farming to manufacturing and distribution.
As part of its recommendations, the Senate urged increased funding for the Bank of Industry to support textile enterprises and called on the Ministry of Agriculture to scale up cotton cultivation as a key raw material base for the industry.
The Upper House ultimately called on the Federal Government to implement comprehensive policies aimed at revitalising the entire textile ecosystem, with a focus on industrial recovery, economic diversification and sustainable employment generation.
