The Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST) has said plans are on the way to establish mini factories in all states of the country to process hides and skin into leather.
NILEST Director-General, Mohammed Yakubu, who is also the chairman of the implementation committee of the national leather policy, in a chat with newsmen , said more tanneries are necessary to provide the right infrastructure and technology for the proper processing of leather.
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Yakubu also said the establishment of the mini tanneries would reduce consumption of hides and skin in the country, which was being done largely because the number of industries cannot mop up the excess products generated every day. Animal skin is locally known as ‘ponmo’.
“We are eating the hides and skin as ponmo because if we don’t eat it, the available industries cannot mop all the hides and skin produced,” adding that leather is a huge national resource with the potential to generate foreign exchange and massive employment.
