Senate pushes for total ban on textile imports to revive local industry

The Senate on Wednesday asked for a total ban on importing textile products. They want this move to help Nigeria's local textile industry grow, create jobs, and bring in more money for the country.

The upper chamber also urged the federal government to give the Bank of Industry (BOI) more funding to revive the textile sector.

This request came after they adopted a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Katung from Kaduna South. He highlighted the need to revive the struggling textile industry in Nigeria.

Other senators who co-sponsored the motion include Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North), Ibrahim Khalid (APC, Kaduna North), Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), and Mustapha Khabeeb (APC, Jigawa South-west).

Senator Katung, who spoke for the group, expressed sadness over how unregulated imports hurt Nigeria’s status as a major employer in the textile sector. He mentioned that Nigeria's first big textile mill, started in 1957, employed around 500,000 people.

But the senator noted that the industry has been in decline. By 2007, three textile mills shut down, leaving over 7,000 workers without jobs. He said, "65 years after the years of textile boom, the fortunes of the once flourishing industrial sector have tumbled and reduced the sector to the unenviable status of the weakest segment of Nigeria’s industrial sector."

He added, "With the lifting of the ban on textile importation in 2010, Nigeria now has almost 80% of its textiles imported from China, Indonesia, Taiwan and other countries. This trend is definitely not helping the Nigerian economy, in terms of unemployment/job creations and needed foreign exchange."

Senator Katung then urged the federal government, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to act quickly to revive textile industries in Kaduna and Kano states. He believes this will create jobs and boost economic growth.

He also called on the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to improve border checks to stop smuggling and collect the right tariffs on imported textiles and related products.

Most senators who spoke during the debate supported the motion. Senator Isah Jibrin from Kogi East urged the National Assembly to work with the right government agencies to make sure the Senate’s resolutions are followed.

Senator Ogoshi Onawo from Nasarawa South said reviving the textile sector could help tackle unemployment and insecurity. He stated, "This motion wouldn’t have come at a better time than this. All that is happening in our country today is due to lack of jobs for our youth. I am sure we can come back on track, get our youth employed, get our farmers engaged, and this country will be better for it."

Senator Adamu Aliero from Kebbi Central argued that banning textile imports is necessary to protect local producers. He said, "Nigeria used to be the largest producer of cotton in the world. We were producing a lot of cotton, but because of a lack of protection and smuggling, textile mills started closing, and we saw a lot of textiles coming from Asia. If we really want to revive the sector, the only solution is a total ban."

The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who led the session, put the motion to a voice vote. The lawmakers overwhelmingly supported it. Mr Barau called the motion critical to Nigeria’s economic growth.

Nigeria’s textile industry was once a major employer in the manufacturing sector. Textile mills in Kaduna, Kano, and other areas provided many jobs and supported the cotton value chain. But over the last two decades, the industry faced a sharp decline due to issues like smuggling, high production costs, poor infrastructure, lack of access to credit, and cheaper imported textiles. Many factories closed down, leading to massive job losses and a big drop in local textile production.

Industry stakeholders have often asked for government support for local manufacturers. They believe that reviving the sector would increase jobs, reduce reliance on imports, strengthen the naira, and boost economic growth.