The Nigeria textile industry is one of the most developed in Africa. It has been characterized by strong export growth, buoyed by a large domestic market and supported by good industrial relations. For decades it has attracted large amounts of investment capital and skilled labor from West Africa and beyond (Nigeria is now the location for several pan-African clothing labels).
The industry is also recognized as highly competitive – globally – and currently represents around 40 per cent of Nigeria’s manufacturing exports. Textiles is the largest industrial employer in Nigeria, accounting for 25 per cent of industrial employment (most of them women), or some 1.5 million jobs. This makes it far more important than even crude oil production, which employs only 5 per cent of Nigerians in manufacturing.
The success of the industry has been built on effective industrial relations, through formal agreements between unions and employer organizations. This is why it has also been so attractive to investors in Nigeria, who are not usually known for being enamored with trade unions.
Here is the list of Top 10 Textile Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria:
Table of Contents
1. eWorldTrade
eWorldTrade is an online trade platform is tailored for African traders and importers to buy and sell. The company has been in operation for over two decades and it has handled over 200 million dollars in capital investment since its inception in 2016. It has offices in Europe, America and Asia with the headquarters.
It has a wide network of international agents that cover almost all countries of the globe and ensure that buyers and sellers can trade easily through the platform. eWorldTrade was established to address some of the challenges that Nigerian traders face when trading globally such as global economic events which affect prices of goods on international markets.
2. Oando Plc
Oando Plc, the Group’s flagship company is an integrated oil and gas company which trades internationally. It has interests in everything from exploration & production to retailing (with 733 petrol stations across Nigeria). Its Energy division also includes a power plant network – a business it recently sold to AES Nig Ltd for US$300 million. In June 2012, Oando Energy Resources unveiled its new name – Oando Energy Services – as well as a new brand image and management structure. The group operates both upstream and downstream divisions, including Chemicals/Specialties, Exploration & Production and Oil Gas Transportation businesses.
3. Transcorp Hotels Limited
The largest hotel owner in Nigeria with seven three-star hotels across the country. Transcorp Hotels Limited has grown rapidly in recent years, opening its flagship five-star hotel – Transcorp Hilton Abuja – in 2007 and recently winning the contract to manage Intercontinental Hotel Oniru, Lagos.
4. Celestial Reinsurance Company Plc
One of Nigeria’s leading providers of marine insurance remains strong despite the global economic downturn (Celestial was voted “Best Marine Insurance Provider” at both the African Insurance Awards 2008 and 2009). The company’s main problem is cash flow; it shipped out only US$1 million worth of policies last year compared with over US$50 million received as premiums.
5. The Nigerian American Oil Company (NAOC)
With an average of 200,000 barrels per day, NAOC is Nigeria’s largest petroleum products marketer/trader. The company markets its own brands of lubricants under the ALUMINAID brand name and gasoline under the label AMONIL. With an extensive nationwide network of terminals, depots and filling stations across Nigeria.
6. Nigerian Bottling Company Plc
The firm operates in three areas: production, distribution and marketing. Despite its relatively small output (less than 1% of Nigeria’s GDP), NAFDAC has identified soft drinks as one of 10 priority sectors to ensure nutritional development in Nigeria. NB is the leading player with a 60-70 per cent share of the 2 billion litres marketed annually in Nigeria (NB accounts for 28 percent of Coca-Cola’s worldwide sales).
7. The Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC)
Founded in 1958, the company is among the top five largest Coca-Cola franchise bottlers globally. NBC manufactures, distributes and markets carbonated drinks, water and fruit juices under the 7 UP, Coca-Cola, Schweppes and Mirinda brands. Other products include Fanta Pineapple & Orange sodas, Sprite lemonade and Appletiser. It has recently announced plans to construct a new US$1 billion reverse osmosis plant that will help meet Nigeria’s increasing demand for clean drinking water.
8. Nigerian Breweries Plc
The brewer was established in 1934 as the first industrial company owned by Nigerians. Today, it has operations in more than 20 African countries and the UK. The company’s US$180 million modernization of its Lagos brewery is nearly complete, while its third-generation plant at Enugu is close to completion. Other subsidiaries include Nigeria Packaging Limited (bottling packs) and Sona Creameries, which makes milk and yoghurt products.
9. Dangote Group
The Dangote Group comprises companies operating across four distinct sectors: Cement production (the largest African producer), Sugar refining & distribution, Flour milling & bread production with two textile mills. The group also purchased a stake in Oando Energy Resources when oil prices were above US$100 per barrel; this share is now worth far less over the oil price slump. The group has interests in Agro-allied and Financial Services and the Dangote Foundation, a charitable organization.
10. Transcorp Hotels Limited
Transcorp’s seven three-star hotels all lie along Nigeria’s coastal belt. They include: Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Federal Palace Hotel Calabar, Oil Palm Resort Apapa (Lagos), Federal Palace Hotel Oniru (Lagos), Eko Hotel & Suites Victoria Island Lagos, Lighthouse Beach Resort Port Harcourt and Zenith Inn Ibadan. The group also owns two prestigious golf courses near Abuja with plans for more leisure facilities on the drawing board.
Transcorp also acquired Red Star Express which is into trucking, motor spare parts distribution and logistics.
