Government Plans to Revive Textile Industry and Combat Smuggling – Enoh

The Federal Government has pledged to address the challenges facing Nigeria’s textile industry and ensure policies that create a level playing field for local manufacturers.

Senator John Enoh, the Minister of State for Industry, made this commitment on Wednesday during a visit to Sunflag Nigeria Limited, a textile manufacturing company in Lagos, as part of a three-day industrial tour.

Enoh acknowledged the decline of the textile industry, recalling how it once rivalled the government in employment generation. He assured stakeholders of renewed government support, stating, “Several years ago, the textile industry competed almost fairly with the government in terms of the employment of our Nigerian people. The government of President Bola Tinubu has an eight-point agenda, and almost every aspect of it is concerned with job creation. Agenda Seven is about diversifying our economy through industry and manufacturing.”

He criticized the influx of second-hand clothing and unchecked textile imports, which have severely impacted the industry, and noted, “Three hundred containers come into this country daily, unaccounted for. They pay no duties, whereas you do, and that’s the level playing field you’re talking about. I have noted the few pointers you mentioned and assure you that we are determined to make a positive change and see how we can get the textile industry to once again flourish.”

Enoh announced that the Ministry of Industry would convene a session on Cotton, Textiles, and Garments within two weeks to engage stakeholders in finding solutions. “We need to see what needs to be done to get this sector right,” he added. He assured industry players that the Tinubu administration was committed to reviving the textile sector, adding, “If there is a government that will change this situation, it is the government of President Tinubu. We are determined to make a positive change and see this industry flourish again.”

He emphasized the importance of expanding the local market and pledged ongoing engagement with industry stakeholders to find sustainable solutions. “This tour is necessary so we can meet you one-on-one and hear directly from you what needs to be done,” he declared.

Meanwhile, Alok Bhardwaj, the Managing Director of Sunflag Nigeria Limited, lamented the decline of the textile sector, revealing that employment in the industry had fallen from 250,000 in the 1980s to just 10,000 today. “Sunflag Nigeria has been here since 1961. We have been (engaged) only in the textile manufacturing industry,” Bhardwaj noted. “When we say that we manufacture, we do not trade but only produce and we utilize everything that Nigeria has to offer. Nigerian people, land and cotton. From there we make Nigerian yarn, wool, towels, African print, school uniforms, sewing thread, suits, and fabric for the manufacturing of mattresses.”

“From 1985 to 1990 we had 250,000 employees with more than 250 companies producing textiles in Nigeria. As of today, there are close to 10,000 employees. Out of the 10,000, Sunflag Nigeria employs 3,500 of them.”

Bhardwaj called on the government to protect the industry, citing the example of the United States. “Just like President Trump protected American workers and industries, why can’t we do the same? Nigeria imports $6bn worth of textiles annually, employing 750,000 Chinese and Indian workers while only 10,000 Nigerians work in the sector,” he asserted.

Bhardwaj further explained the impact of second-hand clothing imports on local tailors, stating, “About 1.5 million Nigerian tailors are affected by the influx of used clothing. If even 10 per cent of these imports are reduced, it would have a dramatic effect on employment.”

He also urged the government to implement policies that ensure local manufacturers have access to affordable energy. “We generate 40 megawatts of electricity for ourselves, but previous agreements on gas pricing have not been fully implemented. We need government support to remain competitive,” he added.