New Roadmap to Revive Textile Industry
New Roadmap to Revive Textile Industry
Nigeria’s textile and garment industry appears set for a major rebound following the unveiling of a roadmap to revive the industry to create jobs, boost exports and reduce imports.
The roadmap, unveiled over the weekend at a stakeholders’ engagement on the National Cotton, Textile and Garment Industrial Transformation Programme in Kaduna, was at the behest of the Federal Government and the Kaduna State government.
Newera News learnt that the Special Adviser on Cotton, Textile and Garments, Mrs Eme Bassey, who announced the plan on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, said the roadmap identified strategic textile assets for revitalisation, including Kaduna’s Kakuri textile hub.
The initiative, according to Mrs. Bassey, would restore abandoned facilities, stimulate production and reposition the textile industry for sustainable growth. The aim, she said, is to create jobs, reduce dependence on imported textiles and promote exports.
According to the Special Adviser, the 2015 textile policy is being reviewed to introduce fresh fiscal, financial, regulatory and skills development incentives, and the revised policy would encourage domestic and foreign investments across the textile value chain.
“The government’s role is to create policies that attract investment and support industry growth,” Mrs. Bassey said, adding that the ministry was collaborating with research institutions, development partners and government agencies to improve local cotton production.
The partnership, she also said, would address challenges affecting cotton quality and supply for textile manufacturers. She also said discussions with the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) are ongoing on affordable financing for manufacturers, especially SMEs.
Mrs. Bassey explained that the industrial transformation programme would be implemented in four phases, with policy reforms currently underway. Subsequent phases, she said, will focus on expanding production, infrastructure, institutional capacity and financing.
She disclosed that government was also tackling textile smuggling and counterfeit products through an existing inter-agency task force.
Mrs. Bassey, while identifying electricity costs as a major challenge, however, added that increased gas utilisation would reduce energy expenses for manufacturers.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture, Murtala Dabo, described the initiative as a lifeline for cotton farmers, noting that the collapse of textile industries had left thousands of cotton farmers without reliable markets.
The Commissioner expressed optimism that the Ajaokuta, Kaduna, Kano gas pipeline would lower energy costs and support industrial revival.
Dabo recalled that Kaduna once served as Nigeria’s leading textile production centre with regional export capacity.
The Permanent Secretary, Kaduna Ministry of Business, Innovation and Technology, Malam Waheed Musa, said the state remained Northern Nigeria’s textile hub, even though over 10 textile industries had shut down in recent years due to operational challenges.
He, however, said the Kaduna State Government was working with the Federal Government to restore the sector and urged investors to leverage the state’s business-friendly environment and vast textile value chain opportunities.
He added that the state was developing power infrastructure to improve electricity supply for industries.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that improved policies, infrastructure, financing and affordable energy would restore Nigeria’s textile industry and strengthen economic growth.
