NISER revealed that the textile industry should be protected and given incentives to satisfy local demands and enabled to compete globally.
It appears that attributed decline in the number of firms in the modern textile sector is partly due to inconsistent policies of various governments including the WTO agreement.
As such, the ineffective monetary policies and exchange rate volatility often affected negatively the importation of raw materials used in the production of textile products.
As things had been from past decades, it does not appear as if the sector could receive any help from government any time in the near future. Information from a senior research fellow from the NISER group, Mr. Bashir Adelowo Wahab, also revealed that there were about 128 modern textile firms in Nigeria in the 1980s. These decreased to less than 45 in 2008, with only 33 active in 2015.
Also, the Nigerian Textile Manufacturing Association (MTMA) fervently canvassed immediate ban on exportation of cotton from the country. MTMA’s Acting Director General, Mr. Hamman Kwajaffa, maintained that such restriction was required, since locally produced cotton was not enough for manufacturers of textile materials in the country.
To also aid the sector, experts are also pushing for a bill for an act to establish the National Cotton, Textile and Garment Development Council. He described move to establish the council as a step in the right direction. This move has been applauded by stakeholders in the garments industry.
In conclusion, those who were aware of Nigeria’s clout in textile sector often recall how unfortunate it is that Nigeria, once a major producer of textile materials in Africa, is relegated to the background due to policy somersault by successive administrations.
