MARCEL MBAMALU
In an effort to tackle unemployment, youth unrest and reactivate the textile industry in Nigeria, the Senate on June 9th, 2026 pushed for a ban on textile importation. But the question remains, “Will this be a solution to the sorry state of Nigeria’s fashion industry or will this create new challenges?”
Despite some economic reforms initiated by the Federal government in recent times, the move to place a ban on textile imports has shown that Nigeria is at the corridors of developing the local industries, however, it also gives heads-on that there are tougher days ahead for the fashion industry in Nigeria and the citizens in general.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe proposed ban on textile imports was initiated by Senator Katung Marshall during plenary. According to the senate, its aim is to encourage local textile production, create employment, possibly improve foreign exchange and to boost agriculture (cotton farming).
However, the proposal has generated mixed reactions. “According to industry estimates, a vibrant textile and cotton sector has the potential to create more than 15 million jobs and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic diversification.” Minister of state for industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, recently said that Nigeria spends about $6 billion annually in textile imports, he also said that reviving the Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) sector is critical to conserving foreign exchange, creating jobs and rebuilding domestic manufacturing. He revealed that there has been a decline in the national output from about 2.5 million metric tonnes in 2001 to only 10,000 metric tonnes in 2025.
Mr. Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, during an interview with TVC news, supports this move, stressing that textile companies used to employ more than 500 thousand workers in the 1960s/70s with about 167 textile mills in Nigeria. He mentioned firms like Faratex, Kaduna Textiles Limited (KTL), and United Nigeria Textiles (UNTL) located in the North and further suggests that the unrestricted importation and Structural Adjustment Programs contributed to the dying industry. According to him, the federal government is prioritising the CTG sector as part of its broader industrialisation agenda aimed at reducing import dependence and strengthening local value addition.
READ ALSO: Textile Import Ban Could Cost Millions of Jobs, Hurt Economy, CPPE Warns Senate
Factors undermining the textile industries in Nigeria
On the other hand, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria’s (MAN) Director-General, SegunAjayi-Kadir identified high energy costs, multiple regulatory charges, limited access to finance, foreign exchange constraints and unfair competition from smuggled products as key factors undermining the competitiveness of local manufacturers. Similarly, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) warned that an outright ban could disrupt Nigeria’s large fashion and tailoring industry, increase production costs and create supply chain challenges, stating that “a blanket ban could jeopardise about 10 million livelihoods across the 17 trillion fashion, garment and furniture value chains.” In the same light, Mr. Majeed Dahiru posits that “cost of Capital” and high cost of energy are the major drawbacks of the textile industries in Nigeria. Additionally, the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) points at lack of implementation of government policies as the cause of the industry’s decline.
Role of effective communication in decision-making
We insist that the government should not make decisions that jeopardise the well-being of its citizens. The government should go beyond slogans, policies must have a positive impact on the living standards of the citizens. The government should indulge stakeholders and communicate effectively to reach an agreement with positive impacts on the people. It should tackle more pressing issues in the country such as poverty, insecurity, lack of infrastructure, corrupt systems, inefficiency, poor electricity and many others. Indeed, the intention of the government is to boost local production and the economy. However, if the government does not tackle its structural problems from the root, then, the whole idea will be like pouring water on a stone, it will result in self sabotage.
IMF/NBS predictions about Nigeria’s economic realities.
The International and Monetary Fund (IMF) reveals that Nigeria’s economy “is entering a more fragile phase,” especially from the energy markets and supply chains which deters whatever benefits the government may have in mind from implementing its economic policies. Global oil prices have risen above $100 per barrel and the cost of petroleum products in Nigeria has reached unimaginable levels, meanwhile, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in June, projected that inflation cost is at 15.91%; these projections endanger business sustainability, consumer purchasing power and overall competitiveness of the fashion industry. What is the fate of businesses, manufacturers, retailers, fashion designers and even the consumers of textile products if an outright ban is placed on textile imports when our facilities are not functional to produce quality and affordable products in large quantities that can meet the domestic demands?
The textile Industry and energy consumption
It is a truism that the textile industry is energy consuming. It is the driving force of textile production, energy dictates the operational costs, environmental impact and product quality. It accounts for 5–17% of total production costs. Spinning and weaving demand continuous electricity for mechanical operations, and wet processing (dyeing and finishing) consumes high levels of thermal energy and steam. Electricity is a problem in today’s Nigeria. Families wail about the high tariffs, how much more the textile industries that use high-performing machines and heavy duty equipment. Even the cost of fossil fuel is very appalling. Poor energy generation, inadequate infrastructure, lack of trained personnel, cost of raw materials, high production cost, limited manufacturing capacity and ineptitude to work contribute their quota to the problem. The ban may have ripple effects and lead to shortages in the market. It may also lead to lack of variety because we do not have some textile materials such as polyesters, nylons, acrylic and others. We may depend on importation to bring those into the country, except the country is bent on producing and wearing only cottons and fibers.
Reasons for the collapse of major textile industries in Nigeria
The collapse of KTL, Miratex and UNTL was majorly caused by systemic power failures, obsolete machines, unfavourable trade, currency liberalisation policies and high cost of production which made the industry to rely on expensive diesel-powered generators. It is against this backdrop that we urge the government to have a rethink. Nigeria has not developed the capacity to produce enough textiles to meet consumer and market demands. There is no doubt that Nigeria has the raw materials needed to produce textiles, but we lack the necessary infrastructure to refine and put those materials into use. The government should channel its energy to reviving the local textile industries by pushing heavy financial investment into it, providing adequate security especially in the North where the major textile industries are located. Katsina and Kano are the hub of cotton farming and textile production, but it is now the home of terrorists and bandits. The bushes where the cotton will be harvested are hideouts for criminals. Who will risk his/her life to farm cotton when safety is not assured? These and many others are the cankerworms that have eaten deep into the fabrics of our society. The government should tackle insecurity and make sure that the local textile industry can produce enough for the domestic market. If it is successful, it can now proceed to African and international markets, then the ban can be placed.
Our expectations of the government
Nevertheless, improving domestic production capacity should be done through reliable power supply, efficient transport networks and other critical infrastructure. In order to make the citizens and stakeholders believe in its capacity to change the economic status quo, we call on the government to prioritise energy generation and adopt alternate means such as renewable energy which will be made accessible and affordable to textile manufacturers. The government should partner with the private sector to strengthen local industries to enable them meet domestic demands in terms of quantity, quality and affordability. Fund, embrace and integrate technological advances such as waterless dyeing, weaving looms, digital & laser printing, spinning systems to produce uniformly at high operational speed; cutting-edge technology such as automation, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things are needed in every production stage for efficiency and an environmentally friendly process. As the industry grows and is strong enough to compete, the ban can be introduced subtly. The government should call on the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to launch a nationwide awareness campaign promoting the benefits of buying Nigerian-made fabrics. Meanwhile, importation of textile materials and local production should be allowed to co-exist.
Survival mechanisms for the fashion industry
Ultimately, we urge the fashion industry to adapt to incoming changes in the case of uncertainty. Invest in energy-saving equipment for energy conservation and embrace technological innovation in the industry for more efficiency and to boost competitiveness. As climate regulations tighten and global energy prices fluctuate, the industry must rethink its energy model by moving from fossil fuels to renewable sources. Adopt waterless dyeing, recycling and innovation driven systems which will reduce negative environmental impact such as carbon emissions that can cause climate change and make for a greener industry.
Dr. Marcel Mbamalu is a distinguished communication scholar, journalist, and entrepreneur with three decades of experience in the media industry. He holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and serves as the publisher of Prime Business Africa, a renowned multimedia news platform catering to Nigeria and Africa's socio-economic needs.
Dr. Mbamalu's journalism career spans over two decades, during which he honed his skills at The Guardian Newspaper, rising to the position of senior editor. Notably, between 2018 and 2023, he collaborated with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Northeast Nigeria, training senior journalists on conflict reporting and health journalism.
Dr. Mbamalu's expertise has earned him international recognition. He was the sole African representative at the 2023 Jefferson Fellowship program, participating in a study tour of the United States and Asia (Japan and Hong Kong) on inclusion, income gaps, and migration issues.
In 2020, he was part of a global media team that covered the United States presidential election.
Dr. Mbamalu has attended prestigious media trainings, including the Bloomberg Financial Journalism Training and the Reuters/AfDB Training on "Effective Coverage of Infrastructural Development in Africa."
As a columnist for The Punch Newspaper, with insightful articles published in other prominent Nigerian dailies, including ThisDay, Leadership, The Sun, and The Guardian, Dr. Mbamalu regularly provides in-depth analysis on socio-political and economic issues.
