FG seeks bill to ban slaughter, exportation of donkeys

MINISTER of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammed Nanono, has revealed that the Ministry is in talks with the National Assembly to create a bill to prohibit the killing and exportation of donkeys or its derivatives so as to prevent the extinction of donkeys.

The minister made the statement during the global inauguration of “Under the Skin”, an initiative on the impact of the global trade in donkey skins in West Africa by the Donkey Sanctuary, a UK-based international non-governmental organisation (NGO) in collaboration with Nigeria Now, an NGO, in Abuja.

Nanono, represented by Dr. Bello Umar, the permanent secretary of the ministry, explained that the bill, when passed, would further complement the import and export of raw animal skins and hides, especially donkey currently on the Customs Prohibition List.

He noted that the exporting of donkey skin increased over the years due to the increased demand and utilization of donkey skin in Chinese health products that had been assumed as effective in the management of some health conditions.

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The minister also said that the indiscriminate slaughtering of this specie of animals, if not controlled, would lead to the extinction of the donkey population in Nigeria.

He said: “In addition, recent research has revealed a worrying trend in the growing trade and demand for donkey skin and its potential effects on global donkey populations and their welfare.

“As part of measures to check these unethical practices, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture in the 42nd Regular Session of the National Council of Agriculture in 2017 noted the need to preserve donkeys and re-classified them as endangered species to prevent their extinction.

“The government at the meeting also encouraged research on the development of donkeys and a sustainable breeding programme for donkey species,” he said.

The minister noted that donkeys play a vital role in the farm in heavy lifting, cultivating the land, transporting hay and silage, hauling water as well as firewood and in the livelihood support of rural smallholder farmers that could not afford mechanized equipment.

Nanono stressed that the significance of donkeys in the West Africa region, especially in northern Nigeria, could not be overlooked saying they play important roles in the socio-cultural and economic life of the most rural populace.

Mike Baker, the CEO, Donkey Sanctuary, expressed his disappointment at the global crisis affecting donkeys.

“Never before have donkeys faced this level of threat, as their local populations in some countries collapse due to relentless demand for their skins.

It is a crisis that demands immediate action and we are calling for an urgent halt to the global trade in donkey skins,” he added.