Nigeria Urged to Revive Domestic Paper Mills as Import Bill Rises to N3.37 Trillion

Nigeria’s growing dependence on imported paper products has renewed calls for the revival of the country’s moribund paper mills amid concerns over rising import costs, job losses and declining local manufacturing capacity.

Available industry data indicate that Nigeria’s paper import bill increased from N238.9 billion in 2021 to N1.11 trillion in 2023 due to sustained demand for printing and packaging materials. By 2025, the figure reportedly climbed further to N3.37 trillion, the highest annual import bill recorded for paper products in the country.

The collapse of Nigeria’s major paper mills has also been linked to significant economic losses. Industry estimates suggest that the country loses about N647 billion annually to foreign paper producers, while dependence on imports contributes to the loss of approximately 300,000 jobs each year.

Nigeria once operated major paper manufacturing facilities, including the Nigerian Paper Mill in Jebba, Kwara State; the Iwopin Pulp and Paper Company in Ogun State; and the Nigeria Newsprint Manufacturing Company in Oku-Ibokun, Akwa Ibom State. These mills positioned the country as one of Africa’s leading paper producers before they ceased operations by 2000 due to policy inconsistency, mismanagement and increasing reliance on imports.

Currently, local manufacturers reportedly meet less than 10 per cent of domestic demand, with Nigeria importing about 91 per cent of its paper needs from countries including China, India, Indonesia and the United States.

Stakeholders say the decline in local production has contributed to rising costs of books and educational materials, as the cost of importing a ton of paper has reportedly risen from about N600,000 to nearly N2 million in recent years.

Calls for industry revival have intensified under the federal government’s “Nigeria First” initiative. Advocates are urging federal and state governments, alongside private investors, to rehabilitate existing paper mills and establish new facilities to reduce import dependence and create jobs.

Nigeria is estimated to consume about three million metric tonnes of paper annually. Analysts say the country has substantial untapped raw materials for pulp production, including bamboo, kenaf, rice straw and sugarcane bagasse, which could support local manufacturing if properly harnessed.