By Emma Okereh
The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has disclosed that donkey hide remains on the export prohibition list.
A statement from the agency’s Director Vincent Isegbe on Tuesday, said the resumption of the certification of donkey hide for export hinges on the rebound of the Nigerian donkey herd which is still classified as an endangered species. The Director said the statement is at the instance of a news report that erroneously suggested that NAQS had resumed the certification of Donkey Skin for export.
It pointed out that the Agency met with all the relevant associations in September last year to chart a course toward restocking the donkeys through breeding and ranching in order to put the animals beyond the threat of extinction.
According to the statement, Isegbe added that the government would consider delisting Donkey Hide from the contraband category only after the scale has tilted in favour of the recovery of the Nigerian donkeys.
The decline of the donkey population in Nigeria was driven by surging demand for Donkey Hide in Asia. The product is used in making potions and items presumed to have therapeutic and cosmetic value.
