The Federal Government has set its sights on generating up to $4 billion annually from a revitalized Cotton, Textile, and Garment (CTG) sector, aiming to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported clothing and boost local manufacturing. This was revealed by the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Enoh, during a stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja.
Enoh emphasized that the government is committed to revitalizing the textile industry, which once thrived in Nigeria from the 1950s to the 1980s, with over 180 functional textile mills and more than 500,000 employees. The minister highlighted that a robust policy framework is being put in place to support local manufacturers, create jobs, and enhance the nation’s economic growth.
Addressing stakeholders at the event, themed “Co-creating Solutions to Grow Nigeria’s CTG Industry,” Enoh expressed the government’s intention to focus on execution rather than just policy formulation. He also revealed plans for a national campaign aimed at encouraging the use of locally made garments across all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). Citing Ogun State as an example, Enoh shared that over 70,000 public servants in the state are mandated to wear Nigerian-made attire weekly, demonstrating the state’s commitment to the revival of the textile sector.
The minister assured stakeholders that critical institutions, such as the Bank of Industry, would play an integral role in providing access to finance and machinery for businesses within the CTG sector. He further expressed his personal commitment to the cause, pledging to drive a Nigerian-assembled car once the national campaign is launched, as a symbol of his belief in leading by example.
Adenike Ogunlesi, President of the Garment and Accessories Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (GAMAN), also addressed the gathering, calling for a strategic shift that places garment manufacturing at the core of Nigeria’s industrial revival. Ogunlesi argued that garments should not only be seen as end-products but as the engine driving the entire CTG value chain. She emphasized that garment manufacturing should serve as the starting point for a broader transformation that will make Nigeria globally competitive.
The federal government’s push to revive the sector comes as part of its broader agenda to promote made-in-Nigeria goods, reduce imports, and boost domestic industries. The revival of the CTG sector is expected to create millions of jobs and provide substantial economic returns for the nation, aligning with the government’s goal of strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base.
