Nigeria losing billions because citizens consume ‘ponmo’ rather than trade – Experts

Mr Olufemi Aluko, of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, says Nigeria is losing out in the pack of countries competing for the 75 billion dollar global leather industry because of ponmo consumption.

Aluko blamed the situation on the country’s neglect of the leather products industry in favour of oil production and consumption of its hides and skin as ponmo.

The don cited global industry report as confirming the situation urged the nation’s policy drivers to refocus on the sector as it holds great potential for export earning and employment.

Aluko said, “Nigerian leather goods businesses must develop procedures to ensure developed markets where products are compliant with environmental and social responsibility requirements as well as international standards.’’

The lecturer explained that the formal leather goods industry had declined almost to extinction which could only be revived by transparent business policies.

According to him, the formal leather goods sector must be revived particularly to supply the domestic, regional and international markets.

He said that considerable hard work would be required by the public and private sectors in coordination for the sector to make considerable further progress but this is necessary as we refocus our economy and use of our abundant hides and skins for leather products rather than for consumption as `ponmo’.
The lecturer added that economic growth and employment benefits from the sector were potentially considerable.

“Nigeria is, globally, perhaps the most important exporter of light leather.
“ The leather tanning sector has made remarkable progress in recent years as it has progressed from export of raw and wet blue leather to finished leather.’’

In spite of the fact that `Ponmo,’ a delicacy made from hides and skin has been popularised mostly by the people of the South West, it has no nutritional value, Miss Yemisi Olowookere, a Nutritionist at Garki Hospital General Hospital, Abuja, said.

“Its continous consumption has continue to generate concerns on its adverse effect on the tanning and leather industry in the country,’’ Olowookere said .

Olowookere said that Ponmo only appeals to the taste buds when properly prepared and has no nutritional benefits.

According to her, Ponmo, is basically cow skin that has been processed to look similar to beef which is sold in the markets and an important ingredient in the preparation of several stews in various cultures.

“Most Nigerians love Ponmo so much that some believe a good day meal is incomplete without It; Ponmo is a regular sight at parties and several public outings, served in different forms.

“It would be quite shocking for some people to know that Ponmo contains little or next to nothing in terms of nutritional value,’’ Olowookere said.

She said the classification of Ponmo was based on their mode of preparation and colour, adding that some are white, cream and brown.

Olowookere raised concerns over some of the health status of some of the animals killed which must have been ill and undergoing treatments.

“Some of the animals because of the ailments, they are usually given injection with contains chemicals.

“People don’t allow these chemicals to complete its cycle and be removed from the body; they sometimes go ahead to kill these animals.

“So, if you consume the ponmo, the tendency is that you are consuming the chemicals directly because the skin part of the animal retains most of the harmful substances,’’ Olowokere said.

The former Minister of Agriculture, Mr Akinwunmi Adesina, last year said that the Federal government, may have concluded plans to discourage the consumption of the popular delicacy.

Adesina told stakeholders at a seminar that the primary consumption of livestock products may need to be reduced because of the need to promote the use of hides and skin for leather production.

For Mr Jacob Akwubilo, Head of the Leather Products Sellers Association, Lagos Mainland, a ban on the product could make leather products cheaper.
Akwubilo urged the government to look into the availability of other sources for leather production, like snakes and fish skins to augment for the shortfall caused by the direct consumption of cow skin.

While a NEPC report says the export of leather products like bags, shoes, was 63 million dollars in 2014, government still lack statistics on the consumption of some items in the country according to Mr Emmanuel Cobham, Director-General, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

He said there is need to get the statistics of the consumption of the product, in comparison with the current volume of leather production and exports in the country.
“The government should also consider the local market, because they are the highest stakeholders, as their survival depends on it.

“In an economy, decisions should not be taken on a one-sided note, but where the major economic policy or decision may affect or bite the more.

“However, there may be a need to simply discourage the consumption to a level, to earn some foreign exchange for the nation through more leather exports,’’Cobham said.

The Director-General of Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Mr Dominick Ajibo, noted that revival of the tannery and leather industries would go a long way to boost the foreign exchange earnings of the country.
Ajibo noted that it would create jobs for most youths presently roaming the streets and neighbourhoods aimlessly.

“Yes, the Federal Government can start by building and giving soft loans to people wishing to set-up tanneries and once this is done; there should be ban on import of leather works to safe-guard these budding industries.

“While there should be sensitization for our people to see the need to take to other sources of meat available and affordable in their localities,’’ he said