Inside the grand plan to revive Kaduna’s silent textile mills

There was a time when the sound of roaring textile machines defined the economy of Kaduna State. Every morning, thousands of workers trooped into massive factories in Kakuri, Tudun Wada, and other industrial areas, wearing uniforms and carrying lunch packs as buses ferried them to work. The textile industry was not only the pride of Kaduna but one of the strongest pillars of Nigeria’s industrial economy.

For decades, Kaduna stood tall as the centre of textile manufacturing in Northern Nigeria. Factories such as Kaduna Textiles Limited (KTL), United Nigerian Textiles Limited (UNTL), and Arewa Textiles transformed the city into a major industrial destination. The industry provided employment for thousands of Nigerians and created economic opportunities for traders, transporters, cotton farmers, and artisans.
At its peak in the 1970s and 1980s, the textile sector was among the largest employers of labour in Nigeria after the public service. Kaduna became popularly known as the “Manchester of Nigeria” because of its booming textile production and industrial activities.

Structural decline and the influx of foreign competition

The industry attracted workers from different parts of the country. Entire communities grew around the factories, whilst businesses flourished due to the steady income earned by textile workers. Restaurants, schools, markets, and transport services depended heavily on the purchasing power generated by the factories. The textile industry also strengthened Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Cotton farming became a major source of livelihood in many northern states, including Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Zamfara. Farmers supplied raw cotton to textile companies, creating a robust value chain that connected agriculture with manufacturing.

However, the glory days gradually faded. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, many textile companies began struggling under harsh economic conditions. Poor electricity supply forced factories to rely heavily on expensive generators, exponentially increasing production costs. The smuggling of foreign fabrics into Nigerian markets also dealt a major blow to local manufacturers.

Industry experts note that cheap imported textiles from Asia flooded Nigerian markets, making it difficult for local factories to compete. At the same time, inconsistent government policies, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of access to affordable financing weakened the sector further. As production declined, many factories downsized operations whilst others shut down completely.

Addressing the cotton value chain and security deficits

The collapse of the textile industry severely affected cotton farmers across Northern Nigeria. With fewer factories buying cotton, many farmers abandoned cultivation for other crops, weakening the entire cotton-textile-garment value chain.

University of Ibadan Textile and Clothing Lecturer, Fabian Onyebuchi Ibeto, stated that achieving a faster turnaround in the industry requires a holistic strategy that addresses supply chain challenges, infrastructure deficits, and economic policies.

According to Ibeto, agriculture remains the foundation of the textile sector, making the revival of cotton farming critical to restoring textile production in Kaduna and Nigeria at large. He stressed that insecurity in farming communities must be tackled decisively to encourage increased cotton cultivation and improve raw material supply for textile factories.

“Cotton farmers should be supported with high-yield seeds, fertilisers, and agrochemicals through partnerships involving agricultural research institutes and the Central Bank of Nigeria,” Ibeto stated.

He also urged textile companies to adopt backward integration by investing directly in out-grower schemes. This structural shift would guarantee a steady supply of quality cotton whilst shielding the domestic industry from fluctuations in global prices.

Modernising infrastructure and plugging fiscal leakages

On infrastructure, Ibeto identified poor power supply and obsolete machinery as major obstacles hindering rapid industrial recovery. He recommended that textile firms invest in alternative power sources—such as solar energy, biomass, and compressed natural gas (CNG) plants—to reduce dependence on the national grid and lower production costs. He further called for the replacement of outdated equipment with modern automated textile machines capable of reducing production time, minimising waste, and improving fabric quality.

The academic urged the Federal Government to strengthen policies protecting local textile manufacturers from foreign competition and smuggling. Strict enforcement of import restrictions and anti-smuggling laws by the Nigeria Customs Service would help curb the influx of cheap foreign textiles and second-hand clothing into Nigerian markets.

The scholar advocated the provision of long-term, low-interest intervention loans through the Bank of Industry to enable moribund textile mills to resume operations and modernise production facilities. He equally appealed to Nigerians to support locally made fabrics through sustained patronage, noting that increased demand would encourage improvements in quality over time.

State intervention and the roadmap to re-industrialisation

Kaduna State Information Commissioner, Ahmed Maiyaki, stated that the Kaduna State Government, under Governor Uba Sani, has intensified efforts to revive the once-thriving textile industry through industrialisation policies, agricultural reforms, infrastructure development, and investment promotion. The administration aims to fully restore Kaduna’s position as Northern Nigeria’s manufacturing hub.

Maiyaki noted that the revival strategy is anchored on strengthening cotton production, supporting local manufacturers, improving infrastructure, and attracting both local and foreign investors into the state’s industrial sector. Kaduna is actively pursuing agriculture-based industrialisation through the development of Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ), designed to boost cotton farming and agro-processing activities that support textile manufacturing.

Economic analyst Abdullah Yusuf believes the decline of Kaduna’s textile industry contributed significantly to rising unemployment and poverty in the state. Youths who would have found opportunities in factories turned to informal jobs or migrated in search of work elsewhere. Echoing this sentiment, economic analyst Ibrahim Sani noted that reviving textile production would not only create jobs but also strengthen local manufacturing and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported fabrics.

Private investors, including Ibi Cotton Ltd and Visiting Textile, have shown interest in modernising old textile facilities with advanced technology capable of competing in global markets. For residents like Usman Sheriff and Gatso Temi, the textile industry remains a symbol of an era of economic prosperity and social stability. As Nigeria continues to seek alternatives to crude oil revenue, the restoration of Kaduna’s factories stands out as a strategic economic imperative.