FG unveils plans to revive textile sector, targets 1.5m jobs

…As Nigeria’s cotton output crashes by 95%

By Yinka Kolawole

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to revive Nigeria’s Cotton, Textile and Garment, CTG, industry, following a 95 percent decline in the country’s cotton production from about 200,000 metric tonnes in 2001 to roughly 10,000 metric tonnes in 2025.

Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, disclosed this at the National CTG Value Chain Activation Pilot Milestone Event, where the government unveiled plans to reposition the once-thriving textile sector as a major driver of industrialisation, job creation and economic diversification, targeting about 1.5 million jobs.

Enoh described the collapse in cotton output as a major setback for Nigeria’s industrial base, noting that the textile industry, which once employed hundreds of thousands of Nigerians, had suffered years of neglect, weak coordination and dependence on imported materials.

He, however, expressed optimism that the ongoing reforms and pilot initiatives would restore confidence in the sector and rebuild an integrated cotton-to-garment production chain capable of competing globally.

According to the minister, the pilot scheme has already demonstrated that cotton can be cultivated, processed and transformed into finished garments within six to seven months.

He revealed that the initiative successfully produced 10,000 made-in-Nigeria T-shirts using locally cultivated cotton, describing the development as evidence that Nigeria possesses the capacity to manufacture garments competitively without compromising quality and standards.

“The initiative has proven that Nigeria can produce garments at better quality, better pricing and in larger quantities than imported alternatives,” Enoh said.

He added that the government was moving beyond policy conversations to practical implementation aimed at reviving local industries and reducing dependence on imported clothing.

“What you have seen today is not a concept note or policy proposal. It is proof that these things are possible and are already happening,” he stated.

The minister explained that the CTG sector remains central to the implementation of Nigeria’s Industrial Policy inaugurated earlier this year, stressing that rebuilding the textile industry would stimulate manufacturing activities, strengthen local supply chains and expand employment opportunities.

He further disclosed that the pilot project exposed critical structural weaknesses within the value chain, especially poor coordination among cotton farmers, textile manufacturers and garment producers.

According to him, previous interventions failed because they addressed isolated segments of the industry rather than creating an integrated production ecosystem.

“The problem is not entirely funding or infrastructure. The real issue is that the value chain was never designed to function as one coordinated system,” he said.

Enoh said the Federal Government would scale up the initiative by strengthening market linkages, improving financing structures and supporting smallholder cotton farmers across the country.

He also disclosed that the Bank of Agriculture had indicated readiness to finance cotton production, particularly for smallholder farmers.

In his remarks, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chris Osa Isokpunwu, described the initiative as a strategic intervention designed to revive the textile industry, deepen economic diversification and create large-scale employment opportunities.

According to him, the CTG sector has the potential to generate over 1.5 million jobs annually, particularly for women and youths, while enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

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