A section of the Nigerian public are taking to social media to vent their anger at the government for harbouring plans to jettison the consumption of hides and skins, popularly called ‘kpomo’, which has become a delicacy in the country’s cuisine, in favour of the growth of its leather industry.
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina had recently recommended ban on sale and consumption of hides and skins in the country to boost its leather industry, much to the ire of many of its citizens, who are making their grievances held.
Aggrieved Nigerians are of the opinion that the country is gripped with social and economic issues such as insecurity and the current wave of Ebola – concerns that require the government utmost attention – and as such should be less focused on depriving them from consuming the delicacy.
Popular local comedian, Helen Paul took to twitter to express her frustration. “If I hear say dem wan ban kpomo… Delicacy wey every Nigerian loves” – @HELEN_PAUL. An on air personality, Tolu Oniru, who works for Nigeria’s Beat FM, believes the move has some political underpinnings. “Why ban kpomo though?” #DistractionPolitics – @ToolzO
Adesina had commended the Nigeria Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) at its 3rd joint anniversary with Animal Science Association of Nigeria (ASAN), for its advocacy and public enlightenment programs aimed at promoting value addition in Livestock, “as against sale and consumption of primary products alone, particularly with the issue of curtailing the widespread consumption of hides and skins as Kpomo which ought to be tanned into leather for a very high dollar return to the farmer and Tanneries.”
Experts are convinced the leather and footwear sub-sector has the ability to contribute as much as 70 percent of Nigeria’s GDP if only it is fully exploited. But Industry growth remains snail-paced as of hides and skin, which goes into feeding most of the country’s 170 million people.“FG set to ban ‘Kpomo’ & Livestock; farmers would stand good chances of making high dollar return if the hides & skins are tanned into leather” – @KaylahOniwo
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The Registrar of NIAS, Oyedele Oyedeji, had in 2013 stated that leather is the second largest non-oil foreign exchange earner for Nigeria, but only seven out the 30 tanneries in the country are functional due to a shortage of the commodity. National Bureau of Statistics also noted in its ‘Overview of GDP in Quarter 2 2014’, that the Apparel and Footwear industry was among the fastest growing manufacturing sub-sector with a growth rate of nearly 30 percent.
But this growth could be further bolstered if commodity supply was enhanced.
“We have been putting our heads with farmers and also consumers because in Nigeria we have a need for ‘Kpomo’ (hides/skin) but we have to very quickly make adjustments so that we can get our shoes and bags instead of taking it away by making it into delicacies,” said Alhaji Bukar Tijjani, Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development said last year.
Apparently, it did not just start, Nigeria has always seen the need to exploit its hides and skins for somewhat better use than being part of a menu.
Hides and skins can grow the economy and create more jobs; Nigerians are however of the opinion that this ‘cheap’ delicacy should never be banned from the market as it provides a readily available alternative for Nigerians who lack the financial muscle to consume more expensive dairies regularly. (VENTURES AFRICA)
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