By Comfort Asemota
Nigeria’s textile imports climbed to ₦814.27 billion in the first nine months of 2025, despite repeated assurances by the Federal Government that the sector is being revived. Industry stakeholders say the rising import bill highlights the continued decline of local textile manufacturing and Nigeria’s growing dependence on foreign fabrics.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that textile and textile articles worth ₦228.83 billion were imported in the first quarter of 2025, followed by ₦337.12 billion in the second quarter and ₦248.32 billion in the third quarter. This brought total textile imports between January and September to ₦814.27 billion.
The figure represents a 47.43 per cent increase compared with the ₦552.31 billion recorded during the same period in 2024, raising concerns about the effectiveness of ongoing government intervention programmes aimed at revitalising the industry.
Industry operators attribute the surge in imports to policy failures, weak implementation of funding initiatives, and structural challenges facing the sector. They cite limited access to affordable financing through the Bank of Industry (BOI), failure to implement promised institutional reforms, and persistent bottlenecks such as insecurity, weak cotton farming, and the inability to scale local polyester production.
The Director-General of the Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association (NTMA), Hamma Kwajaffa, said the rising import figures show that government policies on textile revival have remained largely rhetorical.
According to him, the 10 per cent textile levy introduced after the lifting of the import ban was intended to be reinvested in the industry to enhance competitiveness, but this has not happened in practice.
Kwajaffa explained that the absence of a dedicated textile development fund, domiciled with the BOI, has undermined the purpose of the levy. He noted that other sectors, such as sugar, have benefited from similar levies due to the presence of structured councils and strong political backing.
He added that no funds from the textile levy have been channelled back into the sector since its introduction, describing the situation as a result of selective government attention and weak advocacy for the industry.
Kwajaffa also criticised what he described as policy inconsistency among key government officials, arguing that conflicting positions have stalled decisive action on textile sector reforms.
The Federal Government has repeatedly announced plans to revive the cotton and textile industry. In August 2024, Vice-President Kashim Shettima called for the development of a comprehensive roadmap for the sector, while the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has pledged to localise billions of dollars currently spent on textile imports.
The ministry has also announced plans to promote the use of locally made garments across government institutions and to work with the BOI to provide financing and machinery to textile operators. However, stakeholders say these initiatives have been slow to materialise, while import volumes continue to rise.
Kwajaffa warned that repeated workshops and policy announcements without concrete execution have failed to deliver tangible results. He called for a transparent framework that would allow textile levy funds to be properly managed and deployed to support manufacturers struggling with high energy costs and weak infrastructure.
He further alleged that corruption has undermined credit and grant schemes meant to support the industry, contributing to stagnation and discouraging private-sector investment.
In addition, insecurity and poor agricultural support have weakened the cotton value chain, with cotton farming remaining largely smallholder-based and poorly mechanised. Limited access to extension services due to security concerns has further constrained productivity.
Local manufacturers also face challenges sourcing affordable polyester, despite Nigeria’s status as a crude oil producer, adding to production costs and reducing competitiveness.
Meanwhile, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has warned that the continued influx of imported finished textiles is undermining domestic production. Its Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said cheap imports have flooded the market, making it difficult for local firms to survive in a harsh operating environment.
He noted that regions once known for textile production, such as Kaduna State, have seen factories shut down entirely, with backward integration into cotton farming also suffering as producers turn to export markets in search of better returns.
