Friday, November 14, 2025 - The Federal Government has warned that the continued consumption of hides and skins, popularly known as ponmo, poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s leather industry, currently valued at about $5 billion.
Speaking at the National Campaign Against the Consumption of
Ponmo held on Thursday, November 13, 2025 in Abuja, the Director-General of the
Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ikemounso,
said the practice deprives local industries of vital 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 grow to $4.96 billion
by 2033, warning that the continued diversion of hides for consumption could
derail this growth.
“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.
“As of 2024, the Nigerian Leather Goods Market was valued at
USD 2.79 billion, with a forecast to grow to USD 4.96 billion by 2033.
“Sadly, the continuous diversion of hides for ponmo
consumption denies our industries access to quality raw materials, weakens our
tanning and leather manufacturing sector, and diminishes Nigeria’s
competitiveness in the global leather market.”
The DG said the global leather value chain is estimated to
be worth between $420 billion and $1 trillion, and with proper policy
direction, infrastructure, and raw material availability, Nigeria can
significantly increase its share of that market
He emphasized that the campaign was not designed to
undermine cultural or dietary choices but to ensure that hides and skins are channeled
into productive industrial use for national benefit.
“It is important to clarify that this campaign is not
against tradition or personal food preference," Ikemounso said.
"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.”
Ikemounso also raised health and nutritional concerns,
describing ponmo as a delicacy with little or no nutritional benefit.
He explained that it is mainly composed of collagen with
negligible protein or micronutrient content, making it a poor source of
nourishment.
The DG warned that many hides processed for consumption are
treated with harmful substances such as formalin, diesel, and other
non-food-grade chemicals, which pose serious health hazards, including organ
damage and increased cancer risk.
“From a nutritional perspective, ponmo offers very little
value. More worrisome, in many cases, hides used for ponmo are subjected to
preservation and processing methods involving harmful substances such as
formalin and diesel.
“These pose serious health risks ranging from organ damage
to increased risk of cancer," he added.
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