Ponmo consumption threatens $5bn leather industry — FG
The Federal authorities has warned that the ongoing intake of hides and skins, popularly known as ponmo, poses a significant danger to Nigeria’s leather industry, currently valued at approximately $five billion.
speaking on the national campaign towards the intake of Ponmo hung on Thursday, November 13, 2025 in Abuja, the Director-general of the uncooked substances research and improvement Council, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ikemounso, said the practice deprives neighborhood industries of necessary uncooked materials wished for leather manufacturing and export.
consistent with Ikemounso, the Nigerian leather goods market was once worth $2.79 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $4.ninety six billion by using 2033, caution that the continued diversion of hides for intake ought to derail this growth.
“From an monetary and commercial point of view, cowhides are one among Nigeria’s maximum treasured uncooked substances. Our country possesses a vibrant leather-based enterprise with full-size ability for activity advent, foreign exchange income, and contributions to GDP,” he said.
“As of 2024, the Nigerian leather items market was once valued at USD two.seventy nine billion, with a forecast to grow to USD four.ninety six billion via 2033.
“lamentably, the non-stop diversion of hides for ponmo intake denies our industries access to pleasant uncooked materials, weakens our tanning and leather-based production sector, and diminishes Nigeria’s competitiveness within the global leather market.”
The DG said the worldwide leather cost chain is predicted to be really worth among $420 billion and $1 trillion, and with proper coverage course, infrastructure, and uncooked material availability, Nigeria can appreciably increase its share of that market
He emphasised that the campaign used to be now not designed to undermine cultural or dietary options however to make sure that hides and skins are channelled into productive commercial use for countrywide advantage.
“it is vital to clarify that this marketing campaign isn’t always towards tradition or non-public food desire,” Ikemounso stated.
“as a substitute, it is a strategic intervention to prioritise the economic use of hides and skins, particularly for leather-based production, which holds significant capacity for monetary growth, activity introduction, and export diversification.”
Ikemounso additionally raised fitness and nutritional worries, describing ponmo as a delicacy with little or no dietary advantage.
He defined that it’s far especially composed of collagen with negligible protein or micronutrient content, making it a poor supply of nourishment.
The DG warned that many hides processed for intake are dealt with with dangerous materials consisting of formalin, diesel, and different non-food-grade chemical substances, which pose serious fitness dangers, including organ damage and elevated most cancers risk.
“From a nutritional angle, ponmo gives little or no cost. more worrisome, in lots of cases, hides used for ponmo are subjected to upkeep and processing methods concerning dangerous substances consisting of formalin and diesel.
“those pose serious fitness dangers starting from organ harm to accelerated hazard of cancer,” he delivered.
Leave a Reply