Nigeria spends $6b annually on imported clothing, textile

In a startling revelation, the federal government has indicated that Nigeria’s textile industry is struggling with massive importation, poor infrastructural backbone against local manufacturers and trade malpractices.

Minister of Industries, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olajumoke Oduwole, disclosed this to journalists in Abuja on Monday.

She said as a result of weakened domestic production, Nigeria spends about $6 billion annually on importation of clothes.

“The Nigerian garment industry has long faced challenges. Between 2010 and 2025, it struggled with high-volume low-cost imports competing against a high-potential but underdeveloped local sector.

“Nigeria spends approximately $6 billion annually on imported clothing, with over 90% of popular fabrics like Ankara imported.

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“Smuggling, porous borders, and limited infrastructure have further hampered domestic production,” Oduwole stated.

Her remarks came while commissioning a garment factory and unveiling Mo’Afrique’s new brand, Modish.

She challenged the firm to aim for exports, adding that FG would give full support to the sector.

She commended the confidence expressed by the Founder and Creative Director of Mo’Afrique, Omobolanle Olawale, through her huge investments in the Nigerian textile industry.

She said: “We expect you to have your garments all across Africa and the rest of the world using the African Continental Free Trade Area. This is what generates jobs, employment, and the GDP.”

In her speech, Olawale, described the celebration of Mo’Afrique’s 10th anniversary and the launch of a new brand, Modish, alongside the commissioning of the state-of-the-art garment factory in Abuja as a “historic occasion”.

She said the day is not just “about unveiling a brand or opening a facility; it is about vision, resilience, and the promise of a brighter future for Nigerian garment and clothing industry.”

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