Textile imports hit N814bn despite govt revival promises

Nigeria’s textile imports rose to N814.27bn in the first nine months of 2025, despite repeated claims by the Federal Government that it is reviving the sector. Stakeholders noted that the rising importation signalled a weaker local industry and a deepening dependence on foreign fabrics.

Findings from the National Bureau of Statistics’ trade data showed that the country imported textile and textile articles worth N228.83bn in the first quarter of 2025, N337.12bn in the second quarter, and N248.32bn in the third quarter, bringing the January–September total to N814.27bn.

The figure represents a 47.43 per cent increase compared to the N552.31bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2024. Industry operators told The Punch that the textile industry keeps declining amid repeated government promises, due to policy failure, weak execution of credit initiatives, and pervasive corruption.

These operators blamed the import surge on poor implementation of government interventions, lack of access to affordable finance through the Bank of Industry, abandonment of promised institutional reforms, and structural bottlenecks such as weak cotton farming, insecurity, and the inability to scale locally produced polyester.

Director-General of the Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association, Hamma Kwajaffa, stated that the rising import bill showed that government policies on textile revival had remained largely rhetorical.

Kwajaffa said, “You see, this increased import is why it is now important to levy a textile tax. So that tax is supposed to be ploughed into the production of the textiles. But the government takes that money as part of their money, as if these funds were meant for the government, and not for improvement or to make the local textile industry competitive.”

He explained that when the ban on textile imports was lifted, the government introduced a 10 per cent levy with the understanding that the proceeds would be reinvested in the industry to enhance competitiveness and reduce import dependence.