Senate Urges Ban on Textile Imports to Revive Industry

The Nigerian Senate has adopted a resolution calling for a total ban on the importation of textile materials to revitalize the local textile manufacturing sector. Sponsored by Senator Sundai Katung from Kaduna South, the motion received support from several lawmakers across different parties.

The resolution highlights the historical significance of Nigeria's textile industry, which had its first large-scale mill established in Kaduna in 1957 and contributed significantly to employment and industrial growth. However, the sector has faced a steady decline due to obsolete equipment, inadequate capital, inconsistent power supply, and policy challenges.

The Senate expressed concern over the deterioration of the textile industry, which once employed 500,000 workers and was the second-largest employer in the country. The lawmakers urged the federal government to increase funding for the Bank of Industry to support textile companies and to intensify efforts to encourage cotton farming, which is critical for the survival of the textile sector.