Nigerian Textile Industry Resuscitation Bill 2020

Ayo Akinfe

(1) Cotton production will be expanded to match Pakistan’s 2.3m tonnes through the provision of single digit loans and hybrid seedlings to farmers. Nigeria currently produces only 105,000 tonnes which is not enough to sustain a local manufacturing industry

(2) A Nigerian Tailors Guild will be formed as part of a regulatory regime. Only registered members will be authorised to sew clothes for members of the public

(3) In every state, the Nigerian Tailors Guild chapter will be encouraged to open cotton ginning plants which convert raw produce into finished material

(4) A Cotton Farmers Association will also be formed. In conjunction with the Nigerian Tailors Guild, it will create a cooperative that will act as a private sector investor in the textile industry. This body will be given a name like the Nigerian Textile Cooperative

(5) This Nigerian Textile Cooperative will be given first right to take over the current comatose textile mills in the country. They will be encouraged to seek venture partners both locally and internationally

(6) All major fashion designers will have their goods subjected to a 500% import tax. If they want to avoid paying this, all they have to do is invest in the local industry and begin producing in Nigeria

(7) Nigeria’s trade and industry minister will offer a five year tax holiday to the likes of Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Zara, Gucci, Armani, Fendi, Versace, Ralph Lauren, Hermes and Dolce & Gabbana if they open production plants in Nigeria

(8) These global fashion companies will be encouraged to float a local joint subsidiary that manufactures African attires. It will carry out an aggressive global marketing campaign to make items like the agbada and head tie mainstream fashion accessories worldwide

(9) A national vocational City & Guilds certificate will be awarded to all qualified tailors, farmers and textile manufacturing staff after their training

(10) Every local government area will be encouraged to open at least one textile dyeing pit where fabrics can be coloured