Boost for leather industry as Nigerian govt unveils plan for mini tanneries

The Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST) has unveiled plans to establish mini tanneries in all states across the country.

This ambitious project aims to process hides and skin into leather, tapping into Nigeria’s vast potential for foreign exchange and job creation.

The NILEST Director-General, Mohammed Yakubu, spoke on the significance of the initiative in chat with journalists on Sunday night in Abuja.

He said; “Nigeria is not unknown in the area of leather products. We used to have 84 leather industries, some with branches in Italy and Spain.

“The Nigerian leather industry had branches in Europe. We want that to come back.”

Yakubu attributed the industry’s decline to poor infrastructure, particularly the high cost of power, which consumes over 50% of production costs.

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“It’s not a technology issue, as NILEST provides all necessary technical requirements,” he clarified.

To compete with global leather giants like China, Brazil, and India, Yakubu stressed the need for cheap and regular power supply. “There must be concessions. We must provide cheap power to our industries, particularly leather, to compete with foreign counterparts.”

The mini tanneries will also address the widespread consumption of animal skin, locally known as ‘ponmo’. “We’re eating hides and skin as ponmo because available industries can’t mop up excess products,” Yakubu explained. “In Lagos, 100,000 cows are slaughtered daily, but only 48 industries can process the skin.”

By reducing production costs, Yakubu expects more industries to emerge. “The main problem is power. Tax issues are secondary,” he said. “Employing youths and attracting foreign exchange is crucial. Concessions to industries won’t be wasted.”

NILEST’s plan includes establishing mini tanneries nationwide, processing one to five tonnes of leather weekly from each cluster. This strategic move will not only revitalize Nigeria’s leather industry but also provide sustainable employment opportunities for its youth.

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