…say garment manufacturing can create over 1 million jobs
Despite Nigeria’s vast potential in cotton, textile, and garment (CTG) production, the country continues to spend a staggering $4 billion annually on clothing imports, industry experts have revealed.
Speaking at the CTG stakeholders engagement in Abuja on Wednesday, key players in the sector described the figure as both alarming and unsustainable, urging the government to prioritize local production as a path to economic diversification, job creation, and industrial revival.
The event, organised by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, brought together key players under the theme “Co-Creating Solutions to Grow CTG Industry in Nigeria”, with the core objective of finalizing a roadmap for the industry’s revival.
Read also: Nigeria’s polypropylene production will help build competitive textile industry MAN
Adenike Ogunhesi, president of the Garment and Accessories Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, underscored the urgent need for a shift in strategy, placing garment manufacturing at the heart of Nigeria’s industrial revival.
Ogunhesi made a passionate case for garments as the demand engine of the entire CTG value chain, capable of generating massive employment, foreign exchange, and global recognition for made-in-Nigeria products.
She emphasized that despite various interventions over the years, Nigeria’s textile industry remains fragmented and underperforming.
“Garments do not just close the loop; they create the loop. Garment manufacturing should be seen not just as the end-product, but as the starting point of a value chain capable of propelling Nigeria’s industrial transformation”, she said.
The potential, she argued, is staggering.
Drawing a comparison with Bangladesh, Ogunhesi noted that the Asian country earns over $43 billion annually from its ready-made garment sector, a figure comparable to or even surpassing Nigeria’s total oil revenue.
Nigeria, by contrast, currently imports $4 billion worth of clothing annually, excluding an additional $1.2 billion in smuggled or informal imports.
Despite a domestic market valued at over $6.8 billion, the country’s ready-to-wear segment contributes a meagre 2% to GDP.
“If we could capture just 10% of Bangladesh’s export market, we would generate $3.3 billion in exports and create over a million direct jobs in Nigeria’s garment sector”, Ogunhesi noted.
She added that this would open opportunities for youth, women, and MSMEs, stimulate local demand, and rejuvenate upstream industries like cotton farming, textile weaving, thread making, and even button and packaging production.
She called for an end to the disjointed efforts that have characterized past approaches, urging stakeholders to collaborate around a shared blueprint developed by the Garment Manufacturers Association.
“We have the know-how, the demand, and the people. Now is the time to industrialize Nigeria. It is not just a policy decision, it is a moral obligation”, she said.
On his part, John Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, reiterated the federal government’s commitment to promoting Made-in-Nigeria goods and reviving the textile sector.
Read also: Bangladesh points way to resuscitate Nigeria’s dying textile mills
He announced plans for a national campaign to promote local garments and goods across all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), citing the example of Ogun State, where over 70,000 public workers are mandated to wear Nigerian-made clothes weekly.
Enoh emphasized that promotion alone won’t suffice without addressing the sector’s infrastructural and financial gaps.
In response to concerns about moribund textile industries and outdated machinery, the minister referenced the recently launched Industrial Revolution Work Group, which is tasked with exploring case-by-case interventions for reviving dormant industries.
He assured stakeholders that the government would work closely with institutions like the Bank of Industry (BOI) to facilitate access to finance and machinery for garment and textile businesses.
He also hinted at a personal commitment to the cause, declaring that once the national campaign begins, he would exclusively drive a Nigerian-assembled car, signaling his belief in leading by example.
“We must ask ourselves: do we prioritize cotton, textile, or garments? The reality is that garmenting stimulates the entire chain.
“Countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Kenya started by importing textiles but built strong garment export markets that later justified investment in spinning, weaving, and cotton farming,” Enoh explained.
He affirmed the government’s resolve to move from policy formulation to execution, calling for unity, reduced sectoral fragmentation, and a renewed sense of urgency.
“This sector works. It works for everyone, and it works for Nigeria”, he said.
Reflecting on the industry’s rich history, Bala Mohammed, Director, Industrial Development at the Ministry, recalled Nigeria’s booming textile era from the 1950s to 1980s.
“The sector once hosted over 180 textile mills operating at 50% or more capacity and employed half a million people. Today, only about 25 textile firms and garment factories remain operational, many running below 20% capacity and employing fewer than 20,000 workers”, he lamented.
