The federal government has begun the revival of Nigeria’s Cotton, Textile, and Garment (CTG) sector, with the Bank of Industry taking concrete steps to unlock targeted funding support to drive the process.

The Initiative kicked off with an inspection tour of key textile sites in Kaduna State by the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh. This is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration’s industrial recovery plan under Agenda 7, which prioritises job creation, inclusive economic growth, and sustainable industrial development.

Speaking during the tour, the Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Industry, Dr. Olasupo Olusi, said the economic revitalisation effort of the federal government presents a major opportunity to stimulate job creation, especially in the cotton, garments and textiles sector, noting that the revitalisation is about improving lives across different sectors.

Olusi said, “It holds significant potential for job creation not just within the factories, but across the value chain, including our basic cotton farmers and even in protein production zones. The renewed attention to the CTG sector is a deliberate move to restore economic health and investor confidence in Nigeria’s industrial ecosystem.

“Our goal is to create hope and renew interest in a sector that was once a major employer of labour. It’s a crucial step toward rebuilding the economy, the Bank of Industry would continue to work with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and other stakeholders to improve funding access by unlocking the sector’s full export potential. The government’s plan is not merely about reviving factories but also to build a stronger, sustainable industrial base.

“We see this as more than a factory revival. It’s an economic strategy. It aligns with our broader mission to transform Nigeria’s industrial future with real impact on households and communities.”

Senator Enoh during the tour of the United Nigeria Textiles Limited (UNTL), described the factory’s revival as a litmus test for broader industrial renewal, stating that the Tinubu administration is committed to repositioning the CTG industry as a backbone of inclusive growth, while attributing the decline of UNTL to uncontrolled imports, smuggling, and lack of copyright protection, which allowed substandard products to flood the market.

He stressed that the potential economic impact of UNTL could be revived, advocating for government intervention to address challenges and obstacles to production as it highlights the necessity of labor-intensive industries like manufacturing and agriculture for job creation in a country of 200 million people, arguing that services are important but insufficient for creating jobs on the scale needed for a nation such as Nigeria. (The Nation)