After indications emerged that the Federal
Government might ban the selling of Nigerian
delicacy “ponmo” (animals’ hides and
skins), Director-General of the Nigerian Institute
of Leather Science and Technology (NILEST)
explained why consumption of such food might
by dangerous.
Hides and skins, or ponmo
Speaking October 7 on the issue, Dr Isuwa
Adamu warned Nigerians against consuming the
popular dish, P.M. News reports with reference
to the specialist’s interview with NAN.
Adamu said consumption of the product as meat
substitute was dangerous to health.
“In fact, it is not advisable for you to consume
ponmo in the sense that some of the animals
killed and used for ponmo actually have skin
diseases. Some of these skin diseases are such
that boiling them ordinarily, may not kill the
bacteria.”
The expert disclosed how sick animals with
chemicals stuffed in their skin become food.
“Some of the animals because of the ailments
that they have gone through, are sometimes
treated by way of injection with chemicals.
People don’t allow these chemicals to complete
its cycle and be removed from the body; they
sometimes go ahead to kill these animals. So, if
you consume the ponmo, the tendency is that
you are consuming the chemicals directly
because the skin part of the animal retains most
of the harmful substances.”
Adamu said that NILEST insisted that the
authorities limit consumption of ponmo, adding
that the institute also worked with people to
raise awareness to the issue.
He urged the Nigerian authorities to introduce
policies, which would be enforced to reduce
ponmo consumption in the country adding that it
would improve the quality of raw hides and skins
available.
