Former Minister Lawrencia Mallam laments collapse of Nigeria's textile industry, citing unemployment and insecurity

Former Minister of Environment, Lawrencia Mallam, expressed deep concern over the collapse of Nigeria's textile industry, calling it a "national shame" and a major contributor to unemployment and insecurity. Speaking at the launch of "Do the Needful: Chronicling the Life and Times of Comrade Dele Ariyo," a memoir honoring late textile union pioneer Lawrence Ariyo, Mallam highlighted the shutdown of textile mills, particularly in Kaduna State. She stated that the industry is "dead," with once-active companies and cotton production no longer existing. Mallam identified poor infrastructure, especially erratic electricity supply, as the primary obstacle to industrial growth, asserting that stable power is crucial for revival. She also criticized Nigeria's reliance on imported fabrics, noting the country's loss of its status as a leading African textile producer. Mallam believes that reviving the sector would directly address unemployment and insecurity by creating jobs. Prof Olufemi Lawal, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Lagos State University, described the memoir as a vital historical account of the industry's decline and its past economic contributions. Olusegun Ariyo, the author and son of Lawrence Ariyo, presented the book as both a tribute and a call for government action to restore the sector and create employment.