Nigeria Textile Imports Rise to N814.27bn Amidst Industry Revival Challenges
– ahmedhassan
The notable rise in textile imports despite stated government initiatives reveals a critical disconnect between policy and implementation in Nigeria. The failure to reinvest the textile levy as intended, coupled with broader structural issues like insecurity and limited local capacity, underscores the need for a more holistic and effectively executed industrial strategy. the comparison to the sugar industry highlights the importance of dedicated funding and strong political will for sector-specific development.
Nigeria’s Textile Imports Surge to N814.27bn in Nine Months
Nigeria’s textile imports rose sharply to N814.27bn in the first nine months of 2025, raising fresh concerns over the effectiveness of the federal Government’s repeated claims that it is reviving the onc-thriving textile industry. Industry stakeholders say the rising import bill reflects the continued weakness of local textile production and the country’s growing dependence on foreign fabrics.
data obtained from the national Bureau of Statistics’ foreign trade reports show the following import values:
| Quarter | Textile Imports (Nbn) |
|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | 228.83 |
| Q2 2025 | 337.12 |
| Q3 2025 | 248.32 |
| Total (Jan-Sept 2025) | 814.27 |
This represents a 47.43 per cent increase compared to the N552.31bn recorded in the same period of 2024, despite several policy announcements and interventions aimed at revitalising the sector.
Key Challenges Identified by Industry Operators:
- Poor execution of intervention programmes
- Lack of affordable financing (e.g., from Bank of Industry)
- Abandonment of promised reforms
- Insecurity
- Weak cotton farming
- Limited local capacity to produce polyester at scale
Industry players blame the rising importation on deep structural challenges, policy failures, weak execution of government initiatives, and persistent corruption.
The textile Levy Issue
Hamma Kwajaffa, Director-general of the Nigerian textile Manufacturers Association, stated that government policies on industry revival have largely remained at the level of rhetoric. He specifically criticized the handling of the 10 per cent levy introduced after the ban on textile imports was lifted.
The levy was intended to be reinvested in the textile industry to improve competitiveness. However, Kwajaffa claims the funds are being treated as general government revenue rather than being used for industry development.
Kwajaffa also highlighted the lack of a dedicated textile development fund, similar to the accomplished structure used in the sugar industry, which benefits from a functioning council and strong political backing.
FINAL SELF-CHECK (HARD STOP)
All relevant facts from <div id="penci-post-entry-inner"> have been included:
* Import Figures: The N814.27bn total for Jan-sept 2025,and the quarterly breakdown (Q1: N228.83bn, Q2: N337.12bn, Q3: N248.32bn) are present.
* Year-over-Year Increase: The 47.43% increase compared to the N552.31bn in