Despite having what it takes for a thriving textile industry, Nigeria spends around over $4 billion yearly on imported textile and other readymade clothing. The industry, that is said to be the second largest employer after the government, has been going through a bad patch due to lack of infrastructure and smuggled textile from Asian countries, especially China. Brushing away fears, Director-General, Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association (NTMA), Hamma Kwajaffa said despite the prevailing harsh operating environment, the situation is redeemable.

He believes what is required to turn around the industry is for the government to address key issues raised by operators in the cotton and textile value chain. This, is the only way recent initiatives unveiled by government to revive the sector will yield results. The NTMA boss feels influx of smuggled textiles into major markets in the county not only undermines local industry but also denies Nigerians the opportunity of getting employed. Worse still, uncontrolled import of fake and sub-standard textiles into the country deprives the government of revenue while also draining the country’s precarious foreign exchange reserves.

It is understood that about eight issues have been brought to the notice of the government and that most of the issues for which its intervention was sought are within the ambit of existing policy framework whereas some require new initiatives. Summing up, Kwajaffa says these measures to revive the textile industry have become necessary in view of the fact that the country has the potential to produce for the local market and also export to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) market of 175 million people as well as to the developed world.