‘Ponmo’ Consumption Draining Nigeria’s Leather Industry Of $5bn, Federal Government Raises Alarm

The Federal Government has issued a fresh warning over the rising consumption of animal hides, popularly known as ‘ponmo’, describing the trend as a major threat to Nigeria’s leather sector.

Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Ikemounso, raised the alarm on Thursday at the National Campaign Against Ponmo Consumption held in Abuja.

Ikemounso said diverting hides and skins for food continued to deprive local manufacturers of critical raw materials needed to grow the multibillion-dollar leather industry. Nigeria’s leather goods market, valued at $2.79 billion in 2024, is projected to reach $4.96 billion by 2033, but experts feared this growth could be undermined if ‘ponmo’ consumption persists.

“From an economic and industrial standpoint, cowhides are among Nigeria’s most valuable raw materials,” he said. “The continuous diversion of hides for ponmo consumption is weakening our tanning and leather manufacturing sector, denying industries access to quality inputs, and reducing Nigeria’s competitiveness globally.”

He noted that the global leather value chain stands between $420 billion and $1 trillion, adding that Nigeria could expand its share with the right policies, infrastructure, and access to raw materials.

Ikemounso stressed that the campaign was not an attack on cultural or dietary habits but a strategic effort to redirect hides and skins toward industrial use to boost national economic growth.