Cotton production drops from 2.5m to N10,000 mt

Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, John Enoh, says the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to revive the nation’s cotton, textile and garment sector, while lamenting the sharp decline in production. Speaking at the completion of phase one of the National Cotton, Textile and Garment Industrial Transformation Programme in Abuja, the minister said the initiative was driven […]

Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, John Enoh, says the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to revive the nation’s cotton, textile and garment sector, while lamenting the sharp decline in production.

Speaking at the completion of phase one of the National Cotton, Textile and Garment Industrial Transformation Programme in Abuja, the minister said the initiative was driven by the enormous potential of the sector and the need to implement Nigeria’s newly launched industrial policy.

“Well, I think that getting here in itself was informed by the enormous potential of this sector. We just launched the Nigerian industrial policy in February, and we want to go beyond the launching of that policy,” Enoh said.

He expressed concern over the decline in cotton production in Nigeria, noting that output had dropped significantly over the years.

“In 2001, the production of cotton in Nigeria was about 2,500,000 by 2000. Last year, it had gone down to about 10,000,” the minister stated.

Enoh, however, said the pilot programme had demonstrated the possibility of rebuilding the entire value chain from cotton production to finished garments within a short period.

The minister added that Nigeria currently spends about six billion dollars annually on textile imports, stressing the need to revive the sector to conserve foreign exchange and generate employment opportunities.

He also disclosed that the Federal Government would unveil a new strategic policy framework for the sector between June and July 2026 to attract investors and guide industry operations.

Speaking, the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Mr Ayo Sotinrin, pledged the bank’s support for the revival of Nigeria’s cotton, textile and garment industry through financing targeted at boosting cotton production and strengthening the value chain.

Sotinrin said the industry possesses enormous growth potential capable of attracting global investment and generating employment opportunities.

“I can make a pledge that the Bank of Agriculture is very much willing to support the primary production of, you know, the main feedstock, which is cotton,” he said.

Also, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, Christopher Osaruwanmwen, said Nigeria’s cotton, textile and garment sector has the potential to generate more than 1.5 million jobs annually if properly revitalised.

Osaruwanmwen described the initiative as a strategic component of Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda focused on industrial revival, value addition, and employment generation.