National Donkey Breeders, Marketers and Exporters Association of Nigeria has decried that the specie is fading extinction in the country.
The association said the population of donkey in Nigeria presently is less than one million, saying that it stands at 972, 236 nationwide.
Speaking at the inauguration of Northwest Zonal Executive Members, held in Kano on Wednesday, the National President of the association, Abubakar Baba Kagun said they must rise to protect donkeys from extinction.
According to him, the population of donkey has reduced drastically because it is unlawfully slaughtered and exported outside the country by some unscrupulous elements.
Kagun noted that donkey is key to socioeconomic development of Nigerians, especially in Northern region.
He said the association, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, had introduced donkey value chain to protect it from extinction.
He called on the donkey dealers, processors and marketers to halt trading of the animal until its population increases.
In his remarks earlier, the Northwest Vice President of the association, Kabiru Iliyasu, said the inauguration of the executive members is to protect donkey and its conservation.
“Everybody remembers how donkeys were seeing moving freely in our environment. Now, we are not even seeing the donkey, let alone move freely. It has now become valuable animal that is suffering unlawful slaughter and export.
“Donkey has contributed to our socioeconomic life. In northern Nigeria, donkey has become part of our life. Even building, travelling, business travels were all carried out on donkey for thousands of years.
“Unfortunately, its population is shrinking and the animal is facing extinction die to activities of some unscrupulous elements.
“Thank God the government has banned its exportation and unlawful slaughter and we will help the government achieve the desired goals,” he said.
