Nigeria’s reliance on imported textiles intensified sharply in the first nine months of 2025, with import values rising to N814.27 billion, despite repeated government pledges to revive the sector. The increase underscores persistent structural weaknesses in domestic textile production and growing dependence on foreign fabrics.
New data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveals that textile imports reached N228.83bn in Q1, N337.12bn in Q2, and N248.32bn in Q3—representing a 47.43% rise compared with N552.31bn recorded during the same period in 2024.
Industry Blames Poor Implementation and Systemic Failures
Operators across the textile value chain say the surge reflects chronic issues, including weak execution of credit schemes, abandoned institutional reforms, and entrenched corruption.
Stakeholders pointed to limited access to affordable financing from the Bank of Industry (BOI), as well as persistent structural constraints such as insecure farming regions, declining cotton yields, and Nigeria’s continued struggle to scale polyester production—despite being a major crude oil producer.
Hamma Kwajaffa, Director-General of the Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association (NTMA), said the latest import figures show that government “revival policies have remained largely rhetorical.” He urged authorities to reinvest the 10% textile levy, introduced after import bans were lifted, directly into the sector to boost competitiveness.
Kwajaffa criticised the government’s reliance on workshops and policy announcements without practical implementation. He called for a transparent institutional framework that places the textile levy under BOI oversight and channels funds directly to struggling manufacturers.
Also Read: Nigeria’s Textile Imports Skyrocket by 298% in Five Years, Hitting N726 Billion in 2024
Corruption and Structural Gaps Intensify Industry Decline
Corruption was highlighted as a major impediment, with grant and loan programmes often derailed by demands for kickbacks. Cotton production remains dominated by smallholders, poorly mechanised, and unable to meet industrial-grade demand. Meanwhile, building a domestic polyester industry remains difficult due to cost and technical constraints.
Import Pressure Drives Local Factories Out of Business
Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), warned that the heavy inflow of cheap finished textiles continues to cripple local producers. He noted that Kaduna State—once a major textile hub hosting at least six factories—today has none, reflecting the devastating impact of unregulated imports and weak policy coordination.
With imports rising and domestic capacity shrinking, stakeholders say Nigeria urgently needs coherent, transparent, and enforceable industrial policies to prevent the complete collapse of its textile industry.
