The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a national leather policy for the country.
Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, who disclosed this after the Council’s meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the provision of an enabling framework for the promotion of leather technology would enhance the deployment of the needed indigenous technology in Nigeria.
According to Onu, with the new policy, leather from Nigeria can now be processed into finished goods before export.
He said the implementation of the leather policy would also help in the production of finished goods like shoes, bags.
The minister noted that government intends to create additional jobs through increased activities in the leather industry as small-scale business will spring up.
“National leather and leather products policy will enable government attract more investment into the sector. We would now harness our leather resources in a manner that will allow us make more gains instead of exporting raw leather or semi-finished products.
“This is the only way we can create more jobs, wealth and be in a position to fight poverty,” he said.
