Smuggling, cheap imports threaten textile jobs – Workers

The Textile, Garment and Tailoring Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has raised the alarm over the uncontrolled influx of ‘cheap foreign textile products’ into the country, warning that the development is weakening local manufacturing capacity and threatening jobs in the sector.

The association also called for stronger government measures to protect local manufacturers from smuggling and ‘unfair foreign competition’, while urging the Federal Government to make improved BT cotton and mechanised farming equipment available to farmers at subsidised rates.

This was contained in a communiqué issued on Friday following the conclusion of its 2026 Industrial Relations Seminar, with the theme, “National Socio-Economic Influence and Its Impact on the Manufacturing Sector.”

In the communiqué signed by its chairman, Anthony Adabenege, the association said the textile and garment industry had suffered severe structural decline over the years due to the influx of cheap imported products and smuggling.

“Uncontrolled influx of cheap foreign imports and smuggling weakened local capacity and cost our nation thousands of direct and indirect jobs,” the communiqué read.

The warning comes amid the growing dominance of China in Nigeria’s import market, with a recent report by The PUNCH showing that imports from China rose by 16.09 per cent quarter-on-quarter to N5.92tn in the second quarter of 2026.

China’s imports represented 41.02 per cent of Nigeria’s total imports of N14.42tn during the period, far ahead of the United States, which supplied N1.01tn or 6.97 per cent, and India, with N924.46bn or 6.41 per cent.

The association, however, noted that the government’s current push for domestic industrialisation, local content patronage, backward integration and cotton production reform could provide an opportunity to revive the textile industry.

It consequently urged the government to address the high cost of energy and other production challenges undermining the competitiveness of local manufacturers.

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The communiqué read, “It is expedient that for our textile industries to have a comparative competitive advantage over other countries in the exportation of textile goods, there is a need for all government agencies in the Power, Oil and Gas sector to provide 24 hours steady supply of electricity at a cheaper rate per kilowatt.

“As this power supply is the livewire for the sustainability of the textile industry and this would help reduce overhead cost in the industry. However, we solicit that the current tariff is very high and concession be given to manufacturing industries at a subsidised rate.”

The group also called for a review of electricity tariffs for manufacturers, saying the current rates were too high for an industry already facing rising operational costs.

On cotton production, the association advocated the widespread availability of the newly improved BT cotton variety at subsidised rates, alongside mechanised farming equipment to boost domestic production and attract investment into the textile value chain.

“The resolution reached at the just concluded seminar is that the Management of our textile industries should begin diversifying from pure cotton to blend of Synthetic, Batik, Polymer and Fiber materials as the current market trends and demands is evolving,” the association urged.

It further urged state governments and local investors to take advantage of the reforms to rebuild textile industries across the country.

The association also called for increased funding of research and development in tertiary institutions through TETFund, stressing that research projects should translate into practical innovations rather than remain on institutional shelves.

It charged government agencies to monitor the application of research grants to ensure that funds were used for their intended purposes, while the findings of undergraduate, master’s and postgraduate research should be supported for commercialisation and industrial application.