Sokoto red goat: Leather industry in search of revival

The Sokoto red goat leather is considered one of the best in Nigeria. Even with the abundant Sokoto red goat in the market, the closure of Sokoto leather Tannery (SOLETA), Dange leather Works and Sokoto Tannery, has dealt a major blow to  the once famous business in the state. Secretary, Sokoto state Leather Tanners Association […]

The Sokoto red goat leather is considered one of the best in Nigeria.
Even with the abundant Sokoto red goat in the market, the closure of Sokoto leather Tannery (SOLETA), Dange leather Works and Sokoto Tannery, has dealt a major blow to  the once famous business in the state.
Secretary, Sokoto state Leather Tanners Association Faruk Abba laments: “With 52 tanneries across Sokoto involving 500 workers, who process the leather, only one company patronizes  our product and it is in Kano.We don’t have a modern tannery here in Sokoto and our people, the leather workers who need  modern processed leather, have to travel to Kano to purchase it at  a high price.”
According to him, the locally processed Sokoto red goat leather, is not as smooth and polished as the one processed by machines.
“The company in Kano which patronizes us demands 25 per cent of our products coming from three major tanneries  in Sokoto, namely Ungwar Rogo ,Karaye -Sabaru and Laffi,” he states.
The Secretary, who has been in the leather processing business since childhood, says they learnt a lot about leather from foreigners, and this is in  terms of quality and value.
“We buy the red goat skin from the butchers mostly in the market. We buy them according to grade. Grade I and II costs N400, Grade III, N300, while Grade IV goes for N200,” he discloses.
Faruk Abba however points out that the Sokoto red goat leather is still being exported, despite the low patronage from this end.
“The ones taken to the foreigners in Kano is processed and exported for shoes, belt, horse saddle and boots,” the associations scribe reveals.

He calls for government’s intervention to attract patronage for their leather and get them a new location ,since they were informed of the decision to relocate all local tanneries to a safer and more convenient site.
The secretary also reminds  the state government on the soft loan it promised them during the campaigns for election.
Abba recalls that the business of the famous Sokoto red goat leather was very much rewarding with the presence of modern companies. “Now that we don’t have a single one in Sokoto, it has become difficult and less rewarding,” he laments.
He said the skin they buy at N400 when processed, can fetch N1,000, while the N200-N300 ones can bring N500.
“We really need the presence of a modern leather tannery in Sokoto, for the red goat leather business to be revived,”Abba stresses.
An entrepreneur, Alhaji Shehu Umar Madunkaa, 56 who specializes in making leather products ,including cushions, carpets, bags, wallet and travelling bags from the Sokoto red goat leather, said they buy the leather from the tanneries at N500-N1,000 depending on the size.
He underscores the importance of Sokoto red goat leather, describing it as more qualitative and popular than others.

Abba adds: “It is the only product that we repair horse saddles  with and the demise of modern leather tanneries in Sokoto has posed a challenge to their business. We have to order modern processed leather from  Kano since the companies are in Kano, and most of my popular works are made from  the Sokoto red goat. Sometimes we have to make do with the locally processed leather from Ungwar Rogo and Karaye tanneries, but the modern processed one in Kano is superior.”
He observes that  Kano State has taken over the leather business because the modern leather companies are there. “We are now without any one in Sokoto here, and we are not happy with the development.” Abba urges the state government to  do something to address the prevailing situation.
In February this year, when Governor Aminu Tambuwal  received the Head of Investment and Technological Office of United Nations Industrial Organisation UNIDO in Nigeria, Mrs. Adebisi Olu Madimo, he  had disclosed state governments  intention to  partner with the United Nations Industrial Organisation (UNIDO) to develop the capacity of the state’s leather industry, to meet required standards and boost revenue generation.
At the popular Kara livestock market in Sokoto, where people across the 23 local government areas of the state troop to,  to either buy or sell Sokoto red goat,it is always a beehive of activities on Mondays and Fridays ,which are the two days for the goat market.
A livestock dealer with over 31 years of selling Sokoto red goat, Maidabo Alhaji says the business is profitable.
He discloses that the price of his goats range  from N3,000 to N20,000.
His concern is for government to rehabilitate the market to make it more conducive for their business.

Chairman Sokoto state Rams and Goat sellers Association, Alhaji Aminu Jodi, reveals that  on Mondays ,no less than 4,000 goats are supplied to the Kara livestock market from across the 23 local government areas of Sokoto, and on Fridays, about 5,000 goats are transported to the Kara which is the biggest depot in the state.
“On the Friday market days, we sell about 80%of the supply due to high demand from butchers, rearers and others who need them for one reason or the other. During special days, Christmas and Eid-el Adha, we sell about 10 loads of trailers weekly which are taken to the Southern and Eastern parts of the country. This is an annual jumbo sale where we almost exhaust all our supply.”

He however says shortage of supply occurs during dry season and in the middle of the rainy season. “The dry season shortage is as a result of the dearth of grass and other feeding items, while in the middle of a rainy season, most people are engaged in farming activities, so much that rearing is relegated to the background,” he explains.
He appeals to the federal and state governments to support the Sokoto red goat business because of its strong revenue base.
“It is a major income generating venture as well as a food source to the people. Government should expand the women empowerment loan of red goat to all categories of people, because men too can rear animals and benefit from it,” he urges.