Abuja: The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to ban the importation of foreign textiles as a means to rejuvenate the local textile industry in Nigeria. This decision followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Garba Muhammad (NNPP-Kano) during a plenary session.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Muhammad highlighted that the Nigerian textile industry, which had over 180 mills in operation during the 1960s and 1980s, played a significant role in the manufacturing sector. The industry employed approximately 450,000 individuals and contributed 67 percent to annual growth, making it the highest employer of labor.
Muhammad pointed out that Nigeria has ample raw materials, such as cotton and wool, for textile production, which can enhance local productivity and the economy. He emphasized that revitalizing the textile industry would create employment, reduce social issues, boost revenue, diversify the economy, and improve socio-economic development.
The decline of the textile industry over the past two decades has led to layoffs from companies such as Kaduna Textile, Kano Textile, Aba Textile, United Nigeria Textile, and First Spinners, among others. The discovery of oil in Nigeria diminished cotton production, impacting the textile sector significantly.
Muhammad also noted that government policies, including higher taxation, expensive production costs, and trade liberalization, have facilitated extensive importation of textiles, negatively affecting local production.
The House has urged the Federal Ministry of Power to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to provide essential facilities, particularly power supply, to local textile manufacturers to enhance output quality. Lawmakers also encouraged the Federal Ministries of Finance, Industry, Trade and Investment, along with other agencies, to support local textiles by offering soft loans and easy credit access through the Bank of Industry.
In his ruling, Speaker of the House Rep. Abbas Tajudeen mandated the Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure adherence to these directives. He also instructed the Committees on Industry and Commerce to conduct public hearings with relevant textile industry stakeholders to review current challenges. The committee is expected to submit its report within four weeks for further legislative action.
