Nigeria could reduce its heavy dependence on imported paper by reviving dormant mills, developing domestic fibre resources and creating stronger conditions for local manufacturing, according to a proposed roadmap for rebuilding the country’s paper industry.

The proposal focuses on the former paper manufacturing centres at Jebba, Iwopin and Oku-Iboku, alongside changes to raw-material development, public procurement, financing and industrial policy.

Its central argument is that Nigeria’s paper-sector problems are not simply the result of insufficient demand. The country has a substantial domestic market, but much of that demand is currently supplied through imports while significant domestic production assets remain inactive.

Dormant Paper Mills at Center of Revival Proposal

A first priority identified in the roadmap is reassessing the ownership and condition of Nigeria’s former major paper mills.

The proposal argues that previous privatisation efforts failed to restore sustainable production and calls for a forensic assessment of the remaining assets before new investment decisions are made.

Any future investors, it says, should demonstrate both the financial resources and technical expertise required to operate pulp and paper manufacturing facilities.

The recent effort by the Abia State Government to take over and revive Star Paper Mill is cited as an example of renewed interest in bringing dormant industrial capacity back into production.

However, restoring older mills would require more than transferring ownership. The condition of existing equipment, infrastructure, utilities and raw-material supply would need to be assessed before the economics of rehabilitation could be established.

Kenaf and Bamboo Proposed as Alternative Fibre Sources

Securing sufficient fibre would be another major requirement for rebuilding domestic pulp and paper production.

The roadmap identifies kenaf, bamboo and agricultural residues such as rice straw and sugarcane bagasse as potential additions to conventional wood-based fibre supplies.

Kenaf is particularly interesting because of its relatively short cultivation cycle and long fibres. Bamboo is also available in several Nigerian states and has previously been studied as a potential pulp raw material.

The proposal calls for a national raw-material development programme covering Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Such a programme could connect pulp and paper manufacturing with agriculture through commercial cultivation, farmer training and off-take arrangements.

The technical and economic suitability of each fibre source, however, would depend on the paper grade, pulping process, collection system and required product properties.

Nigeria First Policy Could Influence Paper Procurement

Government purchasing is another area identified for reform.

Nigeria’s Nigeria First Policy is intended to prioritise locally manufactured products in public procurement where suitable domestic alternatives are available.

For the paper and printing sectors, stronger implementation could potentially create more predictable demand for locally manufactured products.

The roadmap also calls for a review of tariff structures affecting imported finished products and the raw materials required by domestic printers and manufacturers.

This is particularly important because local production does not compete with imports solely on manufacturing cost. Financing terms, exchange rates, energy costs, logistics and duties can all influence the final price.

Financing Remains a Major Barrier

Rebuilding domestic paper production would require substantial capital.

The proposal supports establishing dedicated financing mechanisms for printing, publishing and paper manufacturing, including access to lower-interest loans and equipment financing.

Nigeria’s broader economic environment remains an important constraint.

Foreign-exchange availability, currency depreciation, energy costs and high borrowing rates can make capital-intensive manufacturing projects difficult to finance and operate competitively.

Research and technical centres focused on pulp and paper are also proposed as part of the supporting infrastructure required to rebuild industry capabilities.

International Paper Industries Offer Different Models

The roadmap points to Indonesia, Egypt and South Africa as examples of countries that have developed domestic paper industries under different resource and economic conditions.

Indonesia’s development is particularly notable because its paper manufacturing capacity expanded substantially as industrial investment and domestic production increased.

The relevance for Nigeria is not that another country’s model can simply be copied.

Rather, international experience shows that a competitive pulp and paper sector typically depends on several interconnected elements: raw-material security, manufacturing investment, infrastructure, market demand and a sufficiently stable policy environment.

Revival Would Require More Than Reopening Old Mills

Nigeria’s dormant paper mills remain powerful symbols of the country’s lost manufacturing capacity, but restarting them alone would not recreate a competitive paper industry.

A sustainable revival would require a functioning industrial ecosystem around those assets.

That includes reliable fibre supplies, energy, water, chemicals, skilled workers, logistics, financing, maintenance capabilities and customers prepared to purchase domestically manufactured paper.

It would also require determining whether rehabilitating existing facilities is economically preferable to installing new production technology.

Nigeria’s substantial dependence on imported paper provides a clear market incentive for examining those options.

The more difficult question is whether industrial policy, investment and raw-material development can be coordinated sufficiently to convert that demand into commercially sustainable domestic production.

For advocates of the revival strategy, the objective is therefore larger than reopening Jebba, Iwopin or Oku-Iboku.

It is to rebuild a domestic pulp and paper value chain capable of converting Nigerian raw materials into paper products for the Nigerian market.

Last Updated on 18/08/2026 by Jota Machinery