Livestock Minister Bemoans Neglect Of Leather Industry

The Federal Government on Wednesday bemoaned the neglect of the leather industry.

This is even as the Nigerian government disclosed that the sector is capable of employing over 700,000 citizens.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, made this known on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme.

He lamented that Nigerians were rather eating bags, and belts that can be made from hides and skins.

He said the leather industry can generate N23 billion. The minister unveiled plans to enhance the industry by promoting the local production of shoes, belts, and bags.

Maiha regretted that the nation lost billions due to the consumption of hides as food.

“If I tell you now, we are eating shoes, we are eating bags, we are eating belts, somebody begins to wonder, why do you say I’m eating my shoes? I’m eating my bags, I’m eating my belts. Of course, these are hides and skins that we are eating,” he said.

The minister also cautioned against the health hazards of using kerosene to burn animal skins, stressing the need for safer processing methods.

He harped on the need for centralized abattoirs and skin collection centres to optimize the use of hides and skins.

To the minister, proper slaughtering methods would ensure hygienic meat production while preserving raw materials for the leather industry.

“For you to optimise skin collection, you need a central animal processing unit. By our estimation, that industry can employ almost 700,000 Nigerians and by value, our own estimation, about N23bn. Now, we are not there yet because of certain incidents,” Maiha stated.

He also cited the success of the shoe-making industry in Maiduguri and Aba, where local factories are already producing footwear, including jungle boots for the armed forces.

“Most of the shoes that today we import in this country can be manufactured here,” the minister added, urging Nigerians to embrace locally made products.