The Silent Looms: The Rise and Fall of Nigeria’s Textile Industry

As I stepped into this abandoned textile factory, I was overwhelmed with a deep sense of loss. The once-powerful machines now stood lifeless, covered in rust and dust. It was heartbreaking to see a place that once symbolized Nigeria’s industrial strength now reduced to silence. Nigeria once had a thriving textile industry with several major companies, including:

 

 • Kaduna Textile Limited (KTL) – Kaduna 

 • United Nigerian Textile Limited – Kano 

 • Nigerian Textile Mills Limited – Lagos 

 • Afprint Nigeria Plc – Lagos

 • Aswani Textile Mills – Isolo, Lagos 

 • Aba Textile Mills – Aba, Abia State 

 • Edo Textile Mills – Benin City 

These companies were once the pride of the nation, but due to economic challenges, smuggling, and poor government policies, they all shut down. Standing in that factory, I couldn’t help but wonder how different our economy would be today if these industries had survived.