Textile Import Ban Threatens Nigeria's N17tn Industries

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has raised concerns regarding a proposed outright ban on the importation of foreign textile materials, which is part of efforts to revive Nigeria's struggling textile industry. The Senate, led by Senator Sundai Katung from the APC in Kaduna South, has urged the federal government to take urgent steps to resuscitate textile manufacturing, particularly in the Kaduna-Kano industrial corridor.

Dr. Muda Yusuf, the Chief Executive Officer of CPPE, stated that while the intention behind the ban is to stimulate local cotton production and create jobs, it could disrupt the larger downstream industries that rely on imported fabrics. The fashion and garment sector alone is valued at N10 trillion and provides livelihoods for approximately 10 million Nigerians.

Yusuf emphasized that the decline in Nigeria's textile manufacturing is due to structural challenges, including high energy costs and poor infrastructure, and that an outright import ban would exacerbate supply shortages and increase product costs. Instead, he urged the government to adopt measures to improve competitiveness in the industry.