The proposed move by the Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST), Muhammed Yakubu, to approach the National Assembly to enact a law banning ponmo, a skin product used as an adjunct at meals, has been described as a brazen exhibition of patent indolence, a criminal showcase of incompetence at duty post, and a shameful exposition of irresponsibility.
Amb Wale Ojo-Lanre, Nigeria’s foremost tourism and hospitality advocate and President of Ponmo Consumer Stakeholders in Nigeria, pointed this out at a press conference in Lagos yesterday.
He said, “It is shameful, silly and unthinkable that a DG of a whole parastatal charged with the sustainability of the Leather industry sector and Science Technology could not think outside the box and unearth sustainable strategies and formulas to shore up leather production rather than the call for the ban of ponmo. It is shallow thinking, empty and gross laziness on the part of the DG.”
Amb Ojo-Lanre pointed out that the decrease in leather production in Nigeria is not a result of ponmo consumption but a result of patent incompetence and gross dereliction of duty by the DG and the management of NILEST to rise to the challenges battling Livestock farmers and growers in Nigeria.
Because of the DG and its team at NILEST’s insensitivity, Ponmo has also been beyond the reach of the people and is scared because of low production and lack of support for the Livestock sector.
Amb Ojo-Lanre said, “Instead of these people researching into the low production in this sector and coming up with a viable option of increments, they are making the option of banning ponmo, which is not the solution.”
He called on Nigerians to ask the DG and NILEST when last had
1. Organised training and seminars for livestock growers in Nigeria?
2. Ask them what are incentives available for livestock farmers in Nigeria?
3. When last have they engaged livestock growers and farmers in Nigeria to evaluate their constraints and challenges?
4 Ask them the total number of livestock farmers and growers in Nigeria
5. Ask them about the fund incentives and capital reliance agency for livestock growers and farmers in Nigeria
7. Ask them about the outcome or analysis of Research and Development they have carried out in the last three years
8. Ask them about the palliative they have for Livestock growers and farmers
9. ·Ask this agency which is eager to ban ponmo what it has done at addressing the Lack of skills, technology, intermediate inputs and processing equipment battling livestock growers and farmers in Nigeria
10. Ask them what has the agency done at solving the problem of poor linkages among different organizations involved with hides and skins
He pointed out that ponmo, tanda, and other animals skin-related stuff have been eaten from time immemorial before the DG was born and have not reduced the production of sellable leather in the global market
Ojo-Lanre disclosed that he expected the DG and its management to do a proper fact-checking of the low leather production in Nigeria. ” But because of sheet indolence and laziness, the duo believe that the consumption of Ponmo must have drastically affected the output of leather in Nigeria.”
He said DG and NILEST our ignorance of what they are expected to do and just looking for a cheap way to be reckoned with in justification of the fund allocated to them
Amb Ojo-Lanre said, “Livestock farmers and growers in Nigeria are under heavy burdens. There has been no positive interaction from the government, livestock are suffering from serious health infections, the cost of drugs due to the exchange rate is high, inclement weather is common, dams are dry, and there is a lack of green pasture. These and others are the challenges that daily incapacitate them, not the act of ponmo consumption.
Amb Ojo-Lanre said “I trust the National Assembly. It is composed of seasoned and reasonable people who will never entertain such a jejune bill not only talking of passing it into an act. I am sure it will be thrown overboard ‘
He assured all Ponmo consumers in Nigeria to relax, never mind Yakubu Muhammed and its NILEST, which leave the substance and chase the shadow.
