The Federal Government has cautioned that the widespread consumption of hides and skins—popularly called ponmo—poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s leather industry, which is currently valued at about $5 billion.
Speaking at the National Campaign Against the Consumption of Ponmo held on Thursday, November 13, 2025, in Abuja, the Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Ikemounso, explained that using cowhides as food deprives local manufacturers of essential raw materials needed for leather production and export.
Ikemounso noted that Nigeria’s leather goods market was worth $2.79 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $4.96 billion by 2033. He warned that diverting hides for consumption could jeopardize this growth trajectory.
“Economically and industrially, cowhides are among Nigeria’s most valuable raw materials. Our country has a robust leather sector with vast potential for job creation, foreign exchange earnings, and GDP contribution,” he said.
He lamented that the continued use of hides for ponmo weakens the tanning and leather manufacturing industry and reduces Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global leather market—whose value ranges between $420 billion and $1 trillion. With the right policies, infrastructure, and steady raw material supply, he said Nigeria could expand its share of that lucrative sector.
Ikemounso clarified that the campaign is not an attack on cultural traditions or personal dietary preferences. Instead, it aims to ensure that hides and skins are reserved for industrial purposes that yield far greater national economic benefits.
He also highlighted health and nutritional concerns, describing ponmo as a delicacy with minimal nutritional value. Composed mostly of collagen, he said it offers negligible protein and micronutrients. In addition, many hides processed for consumption are treated with dangerous chemicals such as formalin and diesel, posing severe health risks—including organ damage and increased cancer risk.
“From a nutritional standpoint, ponmo offers very little,” he stressed. “More troubling is that many hides used for ponmo are preserved or processed using toxic substances, which expose consumers to serious health hazards.”
