The Federal Government has warned that the continued consumption of hides and skins, popularly known as ponmo, poses a great threat to Nigeria’s leather industry, currently estimated to be worth about $5 billion.
The caution was issued on Thursday in Abuja during the National Campaign Against the Consumption of Ponmo, where the Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof Nnanyelugo Ikemounso, said the demand for ponmo is depriving the country of critical raw materials needed for leather production and export.
According to Ikemounso, the Nigerian leather goods market was valued at $2.79 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $4.96 billion by 2033.
He warned that this growth could be undermined if hides continue to be diverted for consumption.
"From an economic and industrial standpoint, cowhides are one of Nigeria’s most valuable raw materials.
"Our nation possesses a vibrant leather industry with enormous potential for job creation, foreign exchange earnings, and contributions to GDP," he said.
He lamented that Nigeria’s tanning and leather manufacturing sector is already weakened by reduced access to quality hides, adding that the country’s competitiveness in the global leather market is being eroded.
The Director cited estimates placing the global leather value chain between $420 billion and $1 trillion, stressing that Nigeria could massively increase its share with the right policies, infrastructure, and raw material supply.
He stressed that the campaign was not aimed at undermining cultural or dietary preferences but at ensuring hides are channelled towards more productive industrial use.
"It is important to clarify that this campaign is not against tradition or personal food preference. Rather, it is a strategic intervention to prioritise the industrial use of hides and skins, particularly for leather production, which holds immense potential for economic growth, job creation, and export diversification," he said.
The RMRDC DG also raised health fears describing ponmo as a delicacy with little or no nutritional value, adding that it is largely made up of collagen with negligible protein or micronutrient content.
He clarified that many hides processed for consumption are treated with dangerous substances such as formalin, diesel, and other non-food-grade chemicals, posing serious risks including organ damage and increased cancer exposure.
"From a nutritional perspective, ponmo offers very little value. More worrisome, in many cases, hides used for ponmo are subjected to harmful preservation and processing methods. These pose serious health risks ranging from organ damage to increased risk of cancer," he said.
The RMRDC launched the campaign under the slogan "Wear, Not Eat Your Leather" as part of wider efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base and reduce reliance on imported raw materials.
Nigeria’s leather industry is widely regarded as one of the country’s most promising non-oil sectors, with strong potential for exports and employment.
READ ALSO: FG Scraps Mother Tongue Instruction Medium in Schools
Comments
Post a Comment