FG Vows to Revive Textile Industry and Curb Smuggling
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s textile industry and addressing the challenges crippling local production. Senator John Enoh, the Minister of State for Industry, made this pledge during a visit to Sunflag Nigeria Limited in Lagos as part of a three-day industrial tour.
Enoh acknowledged the decline of the once-thriving sector, which previously rivaled the government in employment generation. He assured stakeholders that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is dedicated to reversing this trend. “The textile industry once provided massive employment opportunities. Under Tinubu’s eight-point agenda, we are prioritizing job creation, industrial growth, and economic diversification,” he stated.
A major concern raised was the uncontrolled influx of second-hand clothing and smuggled textiles, which Enoh described as a key factor hindering local manufacturers. “Every day, 300 containers enter Nigeria without paying duties, yet local producers must bear these costs. This unfair competition must be addressed,” he noted.
To tackle these challenges, the ministry will host a Cotton, Textiles, and Garments stakeholders’ session within two weeks to strategize solutions. “We are determined to see this industry flourish again,” Enoh added, promising continued dialogue with manufacturers.
Sunflag Nigeria’s Managing Director, Alok Bhardwaj, highlighted the industry’s drastic decline, revealing that employment in the sector had dropped from 250,000 workers in the 1980s to just 10,000 today. He urged the government to adopt protective policies similar to those implemented in the United States to safeguard local industries.
“Nigeria imports $6 billion worth of textiles annually, employing foreign workers while only 10,000 Nigerians remain in the sector. If even 10% of these imports were curtailed, it would greatly boost local employment,” Bhardwaj stated.
He also stressed the need for affordable energy, revealing that Sunflag generates its own 40 megawatts of electricity but struggles with unfulfilled gas pricing agreements. He called for stronger government support to enhance the competitiveness of local manufacturers.
