The value of textile product imports into Nigeria has surged dramatically over the last five years, climbing by 297.8 percent to reach ₦726.18 billion in 2024, up from ₦182.53 billion recorded in 2020.
Figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicate a consistent upward trend, with textile imports valued at ₦182.5 billion in 2020, rising to ₦278.8 billion in 2021, ₦365.5 billion in 2022, and ₦377.1 billion in 2023, before peaking in 2024.
Despite this heavy dependence on imports, there is growing concern among industrial stakeholders over the underutilisation of Nigeria’s domestic textile potential.
Gagan Gupta, an industrial development specialist and the CEO of ARISE Integrated Industrial Platform (ARISE IIP)—an organisation known for building industrial ecosystems across Africa—has emphasised the urgent need for comprehensive reforms and strategic infrastructure investment to revitalise the country’s ailing textile industry.
Speaking on the theme “The Journey to Making Africa a Global Manufacturing Hub,” Gupta observed that Nigeria can meet a significant portion of its textile needs domestically. He pointed out that the country possesses abundant cotton resources and could develop strong, competitive value chains with the right policies in place. This, he argued, would allow Nigeria to secure a meaningful share of the $10.3 billion global apparel export market.
He warned, however, that continued inaction could lead Nigeria to squander one of its most viable paths to industrialisation.
Gupta also highlighted several structural challenges stifling the growth of local manufacturers. These include limited access to finance, difficulties in sourcing raw materials, and the high cost of foreign exchange, which raises the price of imported machinery and production inputs.
His words: “While Nigeria has the raw materials, a large labour force, and a growing consumer market, these advantages remain dormant due to the absence of a clear policy framework, infrastructural bottlenecks, and weak industrial systems.
“Without a deliberate push to modernise production facilities, improve transport networks, ensure steady access to power, and facilitate access to finance for manufacturers, Nigeria and other African countries will continue to import what they could be exporting.
“To truly unlock the potential of its textile and apparel industry, Nigeria must commit to long-term reforms that prioritise value addition, support local enterprises, and integrate the sector into regional and global value chains.”
He added that real transformation will require coordinated effort and alignment between investment and policy. Reversing Nigeria’s current overreliance on imported finished goods, he said, hinges on strong collaboration between the public and private sectors, backed by focused and sustained support for domestic industries.
