Nigeria Spends $6 Billion a Year on Textile Imports, John Enoh Says

New policy framework underway amid decline in local cotton production

James Emejo and Mariam Adedokun in Abuja

Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, revealed that Nigeria spends roughly $6 billion each year on textile imports. He stressed the importance of revitalising the Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) sector to preserve foreign exchange and create jobs for Nigerians.

The statement was made at the completion ceremony for phase 1 of the National CTG Industrial Transformation Programme in Abuja.

Enoh said the continued reliance on imports has pressured the country’s foreign exchange reserves and weakened domestic manufacturing capacity.

He also highlighted the near collapse of Nigeria’s cotton industry, noting that national production fell sharply from about 2.5 million metric tons in 2001 to 10,000 metric tons in 2025.

These comments come as the current administration intensifies efforts to revive the struggling textile industry.

Enoh described the decline as a major threat to Nigeria’s industrial base and its economic diversification goals.

He emphasised that the federal government is prioritising the recovery of the cotton, textile and garment value chain to reduce import dependence, conserve foreign exchange, and generate employment.

Enoh said, “In 2001, the production of cotton in Nigeria was about 2,500,000 by 2000. Last year, it had gone down to about 10,000.”

He linked the renewed intervention to the broader industrialisation strategy, following the launch of Nigeria’s industrial policy earlier this year.

He added, “We just launched the Nigerian industrial policy in February, and we want to go beyond the launching of that policy. I think that getting here in itself was informed by the enormous potential of this sector. We just launched the Nigerian industrial policy in February, and we want to go beyond the launching of that policy.”

Despite the sector’s decline, Enoh said the pilot programme has shown that local production can be revived quickly with proper support.

He noted, “The panel that we are showcasing today… has indicated that within six, seven months, you can plant cotton, you can get a garment out of it.”

The minister further claimed that garments produced under the programme were outperforming imported products in both quality and price.

According to him, “The fact that we now, from local cotton and the T‑shirts that have been produced, both in terms of the quality, in terms of quantity, in terms of pricing, are better than foreign‑made T‑shirts.”

He announced that a new strategic policy framework for the cotton, textile and garment sector will be unveiled between June and July 2026 to provide regulatory direction and attract investment.

In his remarks, Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Bank of Agriculture, Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, pledged financial support for cotton farmers and other stakeholders in the value chain.

He said, “I can make a pledge that the Bank of Agriculture is very much willing to support primary production… the main feedstock, which is cotton.”

He stressed that the country still has the resources needed to rebuild the industry.

He added, “We have the raw materials here. We can grow cotton. We also have the manpower. We have the expertise. And at some point, we were one of the largest producers of garments in Africa.”