The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has warned that Donkey Hide export remains prohibited in Nigeria until there is a rebound of the Nigerian donkey herd which is still classified as endangered species.
Reacting to a news report which erroneously suggested that NAQS had resumed the certification of Donkey Skin for export, the Director General of the agency, Dr. Vincent Isegbe in a statement signed by the Head of Media, Communication and Strategies, released in Abuja on Tuesday, explained that NAQS is in the process of restocking the donkeys.
“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. 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.” Dr. Isegbe said.
The decline of the donkey population in Nigeria has been attributed to surging demand for Donkey Hide in Asia where the product is used in making potions and items presumed to have therapeutic and cosmetic value.
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