Federal Government Launches Initiative to Revive Nigeria’s Textile and Garment Industries by 2035

The federal government of Nigeria is intensifying efforts to rejuvenate the country’s textile and garment industries, which once played a critical role in national economic growth and employment.

Central to this plan is the establishment of a Cotton Textile and Garment Development Board (CTGDB) aimed at restoring the sector to global competitiveness and generating significant economic value by 2035.

The National Economic Council (NEC) recently approved the creation of the CTGDB as part of a broader economic revival agenda championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The board will be funded by textile import levies and will operate offices across all six geopolitical zones to ensure wide reach and impact.

This initiative seeks to reverse the decline in local cotton production—currently at 13,000 metric tons despite Nigeria’s potential in 34 states—and to reduce dependence on imported textiles that cost the nation hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Officials emphasize that the revival is more than regulatory it is a strategic resuscitation of a sector that once “clothed the people and powered the nation’s economy.”

The government’s vision is to reindustrialize, empower local communities, and restore pride in Nigerian-made products through coordinated policy support, infrastructure investment and public-private partnerships.

Complementing the board’s establishment, stakeholders are pushing for targeted investments, such as the $2 billion textile plant in Ogun State expected to produce 350,000 metric tons of garments annually and to stimulate cotton farming in the region.

The ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has also promised robust policy frameworks designed to localize up to $4 billion in annual textile import spending, create jobs, foster economic growth and boost domestic manufacturing capacity.

Initiatives include import restrictions on cheap foreign textiles, tax incentives for manufacturers and campaigns promoting Nigerian-made textiles in public institutions.

This concentrated government drive aims not only to revive Nigeria’s textile and garment industries but also to preserve cultural heritage fabrics such as Aso Oke and Ankara, support artisans and position Nigeria as a global hub for authentic African textiles by 2035.

With stabilized energy supply improved infrastructure, and a unified national effort the government hopes to rebuild a strong textile industry capable of driving economic diversification and sustainable development.