Ponmo Consumption Is Dangerous – Nigerian Expert

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.

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.

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“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.