Reps Move to Revive Comatose Textile Industry

 

The House of Representatives has taken a bold step toward resuscitating Nigeria’s ailing textile industry, calling on the federal government to regulate the influx of imported textiles and implement targeted policies to boost local production.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, who represents Gwale Federal Constituency of Kano State, during plenary on Tuesday.

In his motion, Hon. Muhammad lamented the collapse of what was once a thriving sector, noting that between the 1960s and 1980s, Nigeria’s textile industry had over 180 functional mills, employed nearly 450,000 workers, and contributed about 67% to the manufacturing sector’s annual growth—making it the largest employer of labour at the time.

He pointed out that Nigeria has abundant raw materials, including cotton and wool, which, if harnessed, could stimulate domestic production, generate employment, and foster inclusive economic growth.

“The revival of the textile industry will not only create jobs but also address social issues, enhance government revenue, diversify the economy, and strengthen national development,” Muhammad stated.

He expressed deep concern over the sector’s rapid decline in the past two decades, citing the closure of prominent textile firms such as Kaduna Textile, Kano Textile, Aba Textile, United Nigeria Textile, and First Spinners. The shutdown of these companies, he noted, led to massive job losses and diminished industrial output.

Muhammad attributed the industry’s decline partly to the discovery of oil, which diverted attention from agriculture, particularly cotton farming—a vital raw material for textile production. Additionally, he cited detrimental government policies, including high taxation, expensive production costs, and trade liberalisation, which led to a flood of imported textiles that undercut local manufacturers.

In response, the House urged the Federal Ministries of Finance, Industry, Trade and Investment, and other relevant agencies to support local textile manufacturers by providing soft loans and easier access to credit through the Bank of Industry.

It also called on the Federal Ministry of Power to work closely with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to ensure stable power supply to textile companies to enhance production quality and competitiveness.

Furthermore, the House mandated its Committees on Industry and Commerce to convene a public hearing involving key stakeholders in the textile sector. The committees are expected to investigate the root causes of the industry’s collapse and submit a comprehensive report within four weeks for further legislative action.

This move marks a renewed legislative effort to revive a sector that once stood as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial economy.