The Nigerian government says plans are underway to promulgate a law banning the consumption of animal skin, locally known as kpomo.
Prof Muhammad Yakubu, the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST), Zaria, who made the disclosure, said the decision is geared towards resuscitating the moribond tanneries and leather industry in the country.
He noted that the habit of eating animal skin, which had no nutritional value, should be stopped in order to save the industry and boost the nation’s economy.
He said, “To the best of my knowledge, Nigerians are the only people in the world that overvalue skin as food; after all kpomo has no nutritional value.”
The DG said the institute, in collaboration with stakeholders in the industry, would approach the National Assembly and state governments to bring out legislation banning kpomo consumption.
He further said, “At a 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 revealed that the consumption of animal skin was partly responsible for the comatose state of tanneries in Nigeria.
He said, “If we get our tanneries, our footwear and leather production working well in Nigeria, people will hardly get kpomo to buy and eat.’’ (NAN)
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