National Leather and Leather Products Policy.

This National Leather and Leather Products Policy is a subsectoral document giving the strategic direction necessary to drive leather industry development through new initiatives and improvement. It analyses the Nigerian leather sector and establishes the framework with the aim of making it globally competitive, also examining the industry's dynamics and growth potentials. The overall goal of the Policy is to compliment other government efforts to enhance the industry's contribution to the economy.
Chapter IV of the document presents strategies to advance Nigeria's leather value chain, focusing on several key areas: (i) Research and Development (R&D), which aims to support continuous innovation across the leather value chain by promoting cutting-edge technology and enhancing training for professionals, craftsmen, and artisans; (ii) Governance, which involves establishing and strengthening institutional structures to effectively coordinate and manage leather industry activities, including the creation of a Leather Council to oversee the sector; (iii) Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), which focuses on encouraging innovation by building local capacity in IP management and improving the efficiency of the patent registry; (iv) E-Leather, which promotes the use of ICT and advanced technology to enhance the quality and efficiency of leather production; (v) Compliance with Environmental and Social Best Practices, which ensures that the industry adheres to environmental standards and socially responsible practices, emphasizing waste management, safety standards, and eco-labeling; (vi) Standards, Marketing, and Patronage, which involves developing and enforcing quality standards, encouraging the formal registration of informal industry players, promoting Nigerian-made leather products, and discouraging the importation of finished leather goods; (vii) Funding, which focuses on establishing a sustainable funding structure through government support, private sector involvement, and development financing to ensure a steady flow of financial resources for the industry; and (viii) Fiscal Measures, which are designed to stimulate domestic growth by offering tax incentives, removing import duties on essential tools and machinery, banning the export of semi-finished leather, and encouraging the local production of synthetic materials and leather accessories.