The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to rebuild Nigeria’s Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) industry, which has suffered a dramatic collapse over the past two decades. Officials say cotton production has fallen by about 95 percent, dropping from around 200,000 metric tonnes in 2001 to just about 10,000 metric tonnes in 2025.
The Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, made this known during the National CTG Value Chain Activation Pilot Milestone Event. At the event, the government unveiled a new plan aimed at restoring the once-strong textile sector and turning it into a major engine for industrial growth, job creation, and economic diversification. The long-term goal is to generate up to 1.5 million jobs through a fully revived value chain.
Enoh described the decline of the cotton and textile industry as a serious blow to Nigeria’s industrial development. According to him, the sector once provided employment for hundreds of thousands of people but gradually declined due to years of neglect, weak policy coordination, and heavy reliance on imported materials.
Despite the setbacks, the minister expressed optimism that ongoing reforms and pilot programmes would bring the sector back to life. He explained that the government is now focusing on rebuilding an integrated system that connects cotton farming, textile production, and garment manufacturing into one continuous value chain.
According to him, the pilot initiative has already shown promising results. It demonstrated that cotton can be grown, processed, and turned into finished garments within a period of six to seven months. In a major milestone, the project successfully produced 10,000 made-in-Nigeria T-shirts using locally sourced cotton.
Enoh described this achievement as clear evidence that Nigeria has the capacity to compete in garment manufacturing both in quality and pricing. He stressed that the country can produce clothing that matches or even surpasses imported alternatives if the system is properly structured.
He also noted that the government is shifting away from policy discussions toward practical implementation. The focus, he said, is now on real production activities that can reduce dependence on imported clothing and strengthen domestic industries.
According to him, earlier efforts to revive the sector failed because they targeted isolated parts of the value chain instead of building a fully connected system. He explained that the main problem was not just funding or infrastructure, but the lack of coordination between cotton farmers, textile mills, and garment producers.
To address these gaps, the Federal Government plans to expand the pilot scheme by improving market connections, strengthening financing systems, and supporting smallholder cotton farmers across the country. The Bank of Agriculture has also reportedly shown interest in providing financial support to boost cotton cultivation.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chris Osa Isokpunwu, also supported the initiative. He described it as a strategic move aimed at revitalising the textile industry, diversifying the economy, and creating large-scale employment opportunities.
He added that the CTG sector has the potential to generate over 1.5 million jobs annually, especially for women and young people, while also strengthening Nigeria’s position in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
With these reforms, the government hopes to rebuild a once-thriving industry and reposition it as a key pillar of Nigeria’s economic future.
