The federal government has estimated that the leather industry in the country can generate N23 billion and create 700,000 jobs if its potential is properly harnessed.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha asserted this yesterday at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria’s Annual Lecture with the theme: “Food Security in Nigeria, Which Way Forward.”
The event was attended by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi; the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli; the Emir of Wase in Plateau State, Muhammadu Haruna among other dignitaries.
Vice President, Kasim Shettima was the special guest of honour. Maiha noted that the leather industry is a part of the livestock industry value chain that was hidden for 64 years, until the administration came on board and created the Livestock Ministry.
“Nigeria is indeed endowed with a lot of land resources, land and water resources that can support livestock production for both local consumption and export.
“If the value chains in the livestock sector, looking at cattle, beef, dairy, piggery, rafting, poultry, fishery, goat and sheep are all harnessed, including leather, by our estimation, the leather industry can employ almost 700,000 jobs.”
