Stakeholders in Nigeria’s cotton and textile industry have welcomed the Federal Government’s approval of the new Cotton, Textile, and Garment (CTG) Development Board, describing it as a long-overdue lifeline for a sector that once powered the nation’s economy.
Industry players, while throwing their weight behind the establishment of the board, warned that its success will depend on a decisive crackdown on smuggling and counterfeit textiles, which have decimated local production and discouraged investment.
“No investor will put money into a sector that still competes with smuggled and fake textiles,” said Binta Shuaibu, a garment manufacturer.
She called for stronger border enforcement, digitised customs processes, and political will to end illegal textile imports.
The CTG Development Board, approved by the National Economic Council, is designed to be private sector-driven and financed through the textile import levy.
It aims to coordinate interventions across the cotton, textile, and garment value chain, reviving a sector that has withered under decades of neglect and policy inconsistency.
Shuaibu emphasised that the foundation of any revival is cotton production. “Without cotton, nothing else in the value chain works. The board should urgently restore supply by providing improved seeds, subsidised inputs, and extension services to farmers in Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, and Zamfara,” she said.
She also recommended a guaranteed minimum price to protect farmers from market volatility, noting that output could rise from 13,000 metric tons to over 80,000–100,000 metric tons within three years.
On the industrial side, Shuaibu highlighted that many idle ginneries and textile mills could be revived through low-interest financing and embedded power solutions, creating thousands of jobs immediately.
She called on the government to lead by example by procuring locally made fabrics for schools, hospitals, and paramilitary agencies.
How NACOTAN Can Help the Industry
Anibe Achimugu, President of the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN), said the board could become a decisive game-changer if properly managed.
“The immediate priorities should include adopting a complete value-chain approach linking cotton farmers, ginners, spinners, weavers, and garment manufacturers,” he said.
He also stressed activating the textile import levy as a sustainable funding source and ensuring private sector leadership free from bureaucratic interference.
Samuel Oloruntoba, Secretary of the Ginners Association of Nigeria, added that the CTG Board could fill the vacuum left by the dissolution of the Nigerian Cotton Board in 1986.
“Since then, cotton quality has declined sharply, and today our cotton is seriously contaminated. The new board can help restore quality through proper regulation and research funding,” he said.
Stakeholders agreed that with strong governance, transparency, and active private-sector participation, the CTG Development Board could restore Nigeria’s textile industry, create jobs, and save the billions lost annually to textile imports.
Rate, Like 👍, Comment 💬, Share this article, Follow us on our social media handles, and Submit your own story to get featured and earn rewards!
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
