Reps Move To Revamp Comatose Textile Industry

The House of Representatives has taken steps to revive the comatose textile industry and urged the federal government to regulate the importation of foreign textiles into the country to rejuvenate local production.

Lawmakers also urged the Federal Ministry of Power to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade
and Investment to provide necessary facilities, especially power supply to local textile manufacturing companies for enhanced quality outputs.

These resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by the lawmaker representing Gwale Federal Constituency of Kano State, Hon. Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, at plenary on Tuesday.

Moving the motion, Rep. Muhammad noted that the Nigerian textile industry with over 180 mills in operation in the 1960s and 1980s, significantly impacted the manufacturing sector, employing nearly 450,000 people and generating 67% annual growth, making it the highest employer of labour.

The lawmaker also noted that Nigeria possessed ample raw materials such as cotton and wool for textile production which can boost local productivity and the economy.

He argued that revitalising the textile industry will create employment, reduce social issues, boost revenue, diversify the economy and enhance socio-economic development in the country.

Muhammad expressed concern over the significant decline in the textile industry over the last two decades, resulting in the layoff of thousands of workers from companies like Kaduna Textile, Kano Textile, Aba Textile, United Nigeria Textile and First Spinners, among others.

He further expressed worry that “the discovery of oil in Nigeria resulted in decreased cotton production, a crucial raw material for the textile industry, thereby significantly impacting the textile sector.

Muhammad noted that government policies such as higher taxation, expensive production costs, and trade liberalisation leading to extensive importation of textile materials have had a negative impact on the production of local textiles.

The House upon the adoption of the motion, urged the Federal Ministries of Finance, Industry, Trade and Investment and other related agencies to encourage local textiles by providing soft loans and easy access to credit facilities through the Bank of Industry.

It further mandated the committees on industry and commerce to conduct public hearing with relevant stakeholders in textile industries to review challenges of moribund textile sector and report within four weeks for further legislative action.