Entrepreneur calls for policy review on textiles

Textiles and garment business owners have called for the review of policy in the industry, considering the struggles that have plagued the sector, like rampant smuggling, poor power infrastructure, high cost of doing business, lack of investment even with its potential for job creation.

The Chief Executive Officer, CNDaniels couture, Nnamdi Daniel made this call at  the CNDaniels end of year party with the theme, “Canvas of Culture: Ancestors are watching, GLAM Trad”  in Abuja, stating that, there is need for the government to review the textile and garmenting sector.

He said, “Currently, what the nation produces as textiles is not even enough to meet the needs of the people in the industry, we need this policy review because criminals from other countries like China are making more money more than what Nigerian garment owners are making, these people steal our products, take it abroad reprint and bring them back selling at cheaper rate, even though the quality is not close to what Nigerian is producing”.

Daniels who is out to promote the made in Nigeria products spoke about the couture partnership with the British Council coming up early part of 2026 and how the organisation will start with Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt then to other states of the federation, all in a bid to  promote the richness of the African culture and the consistent use of Nigerian fabric. “The show happening presently  is a mock show of what we intend doing during our partnership with the British council in the early part of 2026”, he said.

“Our culture needs promotion through clothing, It is no longer news that today people are beginning to forget what our fabrics look like, what our cultural heritage is. We no longer have the fashion sense that is true to us. Our fashion has been westernised and this is not  good for us as Africans. The fashion on the show is Glam Trad because we want the models on the runway to wear what can be explained in the African way.

The CEO added that even though most textiles remain comatose, there are still local textiles that give what is needed, like the manufacturers of Adire, akwete and other very local Nigerian products. These he said are proper Nigerian rich fabrics that are high in demand.