‘Ponmo Consumption Threatens Leather Industry as Nigeria Loses N585bn Yearly’

Following the federal government recent announcement on planned legislation to ban the consumption of animal skin, the Director General Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST), Prof. Mohammed Kabiru Yakubu, has disclosed that Nigeria loses about N585 billion every year to imported animal skin called ‘ponmo’ due to its wide consumption.

Speaking at a leather business to business (B2B) summit and expo in Lagos, Prof. Yakubu said the country loses N585 billion in annual leather revenue to other countries, noting that imported animal skins pose a security threat to the nation and the health of innocent consumers.

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“Yes, without mincing a word, eating ponmo is a threat to the leather industry. Nigeria had about 44 tanneries in the 90s but now only 4 have survived,” Prof. Yakubu said.

Participants at the summit organised by the Lagos State Shoemakers Association (LASSMA) and NILEST, supported the planned ban as they said consuming ponmo has neither protein nor any nutritional value and is dangerous to health because of the methods and chemicals used in its preparation. They also said in some cases tires were used in its preparation.