Insecurity Renders Nigeria’s Textile Revival Plan Another Costly Illusion

In a fresh move to rejuvenate Nigeria’s once-thriving textile industry, the National Economic Council (NEC) last week approved the establishment of the Cotton, Textile, and Garment Development Board. The board, designed to be managed by the private sector and funded through the Textile Import Levy collected by the Nigerian Customs Service, is one of several initiatives under the Renewed Hope Administration aimed at breathing life into moribund sectors of the economy.

The government says the objective is clear: create jobs, boost local production, and stimulate economic growth. However, many observers argue that the proposal is dead on arrival. Rampant insecurity across Nigeria—especially in the northern states where cotton farming predominates—makes it virtually impossible for farmers to operate safely.

Without guaranteed security for farmers and textile investors, critics warn that the new board risks becoming yet another bureaucratic layer fueling overhead expenditures with little or no tangible outcomes. Previous efforts to revive the textile sector have faltered for the same reasons, draining public resources without delivering sustainable results.

Unless the government tackles insecurity head-on, experts say any attempt to revive cotton production and textile manufacturing will remain an exercise in futility, regardless of the good intentions behind the Renewed Hope agenda.

Despite fresh promises under the Renewed Hope Administration, Nigeria’s dream of reviving its collapsed textile industry appears doomed from the start. The creation of a Cotton, Textile, and Garment Development Board, intended to be run by the private sector and financed through the existing Textile Import Levy collected by the Nigerian Customs Service.

While officials tout the plan as a major step toward job creation and economic revitalization, the glaring reality of nationwide insecurity casts a dark shadow over its feasibility. With no state able to guarantee the safety of farmers, especially in the cotton-growing regions, the foundation required for any genuine revival is simply nonexistent.

Analysts and industry insiders argue that this initiative is yet another expensive venture destined for failure. Without addressing the brutal attacks, kidnappings, and general lawlessness plaguing rural areas, the Cotton, Textile, and Garment Development Board risks becoming another administrative burden — adding to government overhead with no return on investment.

History has shown that pouring funds into industries without fixing the fundamental issues only leads to waste. Unless the government prioritizes security as the first step, Nigeria’s textile dreams will remain a costly mirage.

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