Nigeria's government is moving to rescue the country's struggling textile sector with plans to completely rebuild critical facilities in Kaduna and beyond. The overhaul aims to breathe new life into an industry that once thrived and could generate thousands of jobs across the nation.
Officials announced the strategy during a stakeholder meeting in Kaduna focused on the National Cotton Textile and Garment Industrial Transformation Program. The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment led the engagement.
Eme Bassey, special adviser on cotton, textiles and garments to the minister of state for industry, outlined the government's vision. She identified Kaduna's Kakuri textile hub as a priority site for revival.
"Certain specific locations, of course, Kaduna being included, have been identified as key assets that can be revitalised to restore the sector to its glory days, create mass employment, reduce imports, and promote exports," Bassey told the gathering.
The physical infrastructure at places like Kakuri has deteriorated significantly but retains strategic value, she noted. Complete reconstruction of these sites forms the backbone of the transformation strategy.
The ministry is crafting fresh incentive policies to lure private investors into the sector. A 2015 policy framework is currently undergoing revision and will be released soon alongside an implementation plan.
"One of the key roles of government is to create a policy that enables interest which will naturally lead to domestic and international investment," Bassey said. She stressed that multiple measures would simplify operations for existing and new players in the industry.
Strengthening local cotton supplies requires close partnership among various stakeholders, Bassey emphasised. The ministry is collaborating with research bodies, development partners, and federal and state agencies to address bottlenecks in the cotton value chain.
The government is in talks with the Bank of Industry and the Bank of Agriculture to arrange low-cost financing and grants for small and medium enterprises. "Financing is a critical factor for success," Bassey added.
The Transformation Program unfolds across four phases with phase one already concluded. Phase two concentrates on policy development, data collection and institutional frameworks, while phase three expands production capacity, infrastructure and financial support.
An active task force is fighting smuggling and counterfeit textile products in the market. Bassey said ongoing discussions and actions protect the sector from these threats.
High electricity costs remain a major headache for textile manufacturers. Officials are exploring gas utilisation as a solution to reduce power expenses for energy-intensive operations.
"Gas is historically known to be a medium of reducing the cost of electricity for high-intensity production sectors like textiles," Bassey explained.
Murtala Dabo, Kaduna State's agriculture commissioner, welcomed the revival initiative. He noted that cotton farmers across the North have been idle since the sector collapsed.
"You know Kaduna is an agrarian state, and most of the cotton farmers have been redundant," Dabo said. The textile sector's resurgence would restore livelihoods across farming communities in the region.
