The Nigerian Senate has called on the Federal Government to impose a total ban on the importation of foreign textile materials as part of renewed efforts to revive the country’s struggling textile industry, according to a report by Channels Television.

The resolution followed a motion titled “urgent need to revive the textile industries in Nigeria with particular reference to the Kaduna-Kano Axis”, sponsored by Senator Sunday Katung (APC, Kaduna South) and co-sponsored by lawmakers across party lines.

Lawmakers argued that restricting textile imports would help rebuild local manufacturing capacity, boost cotton production, and create jobs, especially in the Kaduna-Kano industrial corridor, once a major hub of Nigeria’s textile economy.

Presenting the motion, Senator Katung recalled that Nigeria’s first major textile mill was established in Kaduna in 1957, with the sector later expanding to other regions and becoming a key driver of industrial growth and employment.

He noted that by the late 1970s and 1980s, the country had around 167 textile mills employing over 500,000 workers, making it the second-largest employer after government institutions at the time.

However, the industry has since declined sharply due to obsolete machinery, inadequate funding, erratic power supply and policy inconsistencies, leaving many factories abandoned.

The Senate also urged increased funding for the Bank of Industry (BoI) to support struggling textile firms and called on the Ministries of Agriculture and Trade and Investment to prioritise cotton farming as a foundation for reviving the value chain.

The upper chamber further recommended coordinated government policies covering cotton cultivation, manufacturing and distribution to restore competitiveness and reduce reliance on imported fabrics.