CPPE Warns Senate That Textile Import Ban Could Cost Nigeria N7 trillion and 10 million Jobs

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE) warned that the Senate’s recent resolution to ban textile imports would inflict greater harm on the Nigerian economy than benefit.

CPPE chief executive director Dr Muda Yusuf made the statement on Sunday.

On June 9, 2026, the Senate adopted resolutions calling for a total ban on textile imports as part of an effort to revive Nigeria’s textile industry.

The resolutions were prompted by a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Katung of Kaduna South, titled ‘Urgent need to revive the textile industries in Nigeria with particular reference to the Kaduna-Kano Axis’.

In a response on Sunday, CPPE argued that the resolutions posed a serious risk to the country’s textile industry, which is valued at about N7 trillion and supports roughly 10 million jobs.

The group said the ban would disrupt the millions of jobs already created in the textile sector.

CPPE explained that the Senate’s ban targets a symptom rather than the root causes.

Yusuf said the industry’s real challenge stems from long‑standing structural constraints—such as high energy costs, costly credit, inadequate infrastructure, logistics bottlenecks, outdated technology, smuggling, limited access to long‑term finance, and inconsistent policy—rather than import competition.

“The industry is valued at an estimated N7 trillion. The industry provides livelihoods for an estimated ten million Nigerians and is one of the country’s most vibrant creative economy sectors.”

“A supply disruption would increase production costs and weaken the competitiveness of the sector.”

“The challenge confronting Nigeria’s textile industry is fundamentally one of competitiveness rather than import penetration.”

“Sustainable revival will require structural reforms that improve productivity, reduce production costs, revive cotton production, expand access to affordable finance and leverage government procurement to stimulate domestic demand,” CPPE stated.