FG targets $4bn annual revenue from reviving cotton, textile industry
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Enoh, has reaffirmed the federal government’s unwavering dedication to breathing new life into Nigeria’s Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) sector. The sector, he projected, has the potential to generate up to $4 billion annually while significantly cutting the nation’s reliance on imported clothing.
Speaking at the CTG stakeholders’ engagement forum held in Abuja under the theme “Co-creating Solutions to Grow Nigeria’s CTG Industry,” Enoh stated that the government is crafting a solid and adaptive policy framework aimed at empowering local manufacturers, generating employment, and stimulating economic growth.
According to the minister, reviving the textile industry is a cornerstone of the administration’s larger ambition to champion made-in-Nigeria products.
He unveiled plans for a national campaign that will encourage widespread adoption of locally produced garments across all government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). He pointed to Ogun State as a model example—where over 70,000 civil servants are already required to wear Nigerian-made clothing at least once a week.
Enoh reassured stakeholders that the era of policy talk without action is over. The government, he said, is shifting focus from policy drafting to tangible implementation, with institutions such as the Bank of Industry playing a crucial role in granting CTG businesses access to finance and essential machinery.
“I’m personally committed to this mission,” the minister said. “When this national campaign kicks off, I will be driving only a Nigerian-assembled car—not just as a statement, but to show leadership by action.”
Reflecting on Nigeria’s golden era in textiles—from the 1950s to the 1980s—he recalled that the country once boasted over 180 operational textile mills, employing more than half a million people. He called for unity and greater collaboration among industry players to bridge divides and bring the sector back to life.
“We can’t afford to be fragmented. This industry once stood tall and employed thousands. It’s time to reclaim that position—not just with policies, but with collective resolve,” he said.
Adding her voice at the event, the President of the Garment and Accessories Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Adenike Ogunlesi, called for a fundamental rethinking of the sector’s approach. She urged industry leaders and policymakers to place garment production at the very core of Nigeria’s industrial regeneration.
“Garments don’t just complete the value chain—they create it,” Ogunlesi said. “We need to stop treating garments as the final product. Garment manufacturing must become the driving force—the ignition point—for an entire value chain capable of reshaping Nigeria’s industrial landscape.”
She called for a more focused, cohesive national strategy that brings together manufacturers, investors, and government agencies to unlock the full potential of the CTG industry and position Nigeria as a global textile hub.
