KEY POINTS

• The NTMA wants import restrictions, not marginal tariffs, to protect local textile makers.
• It blames smuggling, dumping and excessive imports for mill closures and job losses.
• The DG says cotton revival, cheaper energy and better security are also vital.

The Nigeria Textile Manufacturers Association has renewed its call for stronger government measures to protect the country’s textile industry from excessive imports, smuggling and unfair foreign competition. The association argues that decisive trade policy, rather than small tariff tweaks, holds the key to reviving the sector.

A call for import restrictions

Speaking on a Nigerian Television Authority programme, the Director-General of the NTMA, Dr. Hamma Ali Kwajaffa, said the association has consistently pushed for firm trade policies, including restrictions on textile imports. According to him, marginal tariff increases offer little protection to local manufacturers.

Moreover, his position aligns with recent Senate resolutions, which urged the Federal Government to ban textile imports outright, enforce local content requirements and boost funding for the Bank of Industry. Kwajaffa lamented that unchecked importation, dumping and widespread smuggling have devastated the sector, forcing many mills to close and shedding significant jobs.

Consequently, he said the NTMA supports comprehensive interventions to revive the industry and restore its competitiveness. Furthermore, he stressed that stricter border controls and effective enforcement of trade rules remain essential to curb the influx of cheap imported fabrics that undermine local producers.

Beyond border controls for textile industry protection

However, Kwajaffa cautioned that import restrictions alone would not revive the sector. He identified several structural challenges that still hinder local manufacturers, including inadequate raw material supply, high production costs, poor infrastructure and insecurity.

“The collapse of local cotton production has left manufacturers struggling to source inputs,” he said. Therefore, he called for government incentives, improved agricultural extension services and stronger support for cotton farmers to rebuild the value chain. In addition, he highlighted the difficulty manufacturers face in accessing affordable locally produced polyester, alongside the burden of high energy costs, despite Nigeria’s status as a major crude oil producer.

He also linked the sector’s struggles to wider insecurity. According to him, attacks in farming communities have limited the ability of extension workers to support farmers, which has hurt cotton yields and raw material supply. Ultimately, Kwajaffa framed the revival of textiles as a test of both trade policy and broader economic reform, arguing that the country must pair tougher protection with cheaper inputs, better security and a working cotton chain if it wants to bring shuttered mills back to life and restore lost jobs.