leading media figure Nigerians have reacted to the federal government’s proposal to outlaw the consumption of animal skin, or “ponmo,” across the nation in order to revitalize tanneries, including Daddy Freeze and actress Monica Friday.
On Sunday in Abuja, Muhammad Yakubu, director-general of the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST), made this statement. He claimed that the legal action was essential to reviving the nation’s dead leather sector.
To save the industry and strengthen the economy of the country, he suggested ending the practice of eating animal skin, which has little nutritional value. The director-general further stated that the institute would approach the national parliament and state governments to introduce legislation outlawing the consumption of “ponmo” in cooperation with industry partners.
“To the best of my knowledge, Nigerians are the only people in the world that overvalue skin as food, after all, Ponmo has no nutritional value. At one point, there was a motion before the two chambers of the national assembly, it was debated but I don’t know how the matter was thrown away,” he said
He claims that the current status of the tanneries in Nigeria is mostly due to the consumption of animal skin. He added that several basic issues facing the industry had been addressed under the present National Leather Policy.
“If we get our tanneries, our footwear and leather production working well in Nigeria, people will hardly get pomo to buy and eat. When implemented fully, it would turn around most of the comatose tanneries and ginger greater output in production.”
Yakubu also urged participants to support the legislation and the national leather policy in order to revitalize the industry.
But in response to this, Daddy Freeze commented on the Instagram blog, saying, “I adore the fact that our country is ruled by total geniuses.”
Monica Friday wrote, “Can we ban darkness for one year instead? Justice for ponmo.”
Singer Chike wrote: “Oh Nooo!”
Officialdyijay wrote: “So, this is Nigeria’s major issue now? Misplaced priorities.”
