Ogun govt raises alarm over killer ‘ponmo’

The Ogun State government has raised an alarm over the discovery of poisonous cattle hide and skin otherwise known as ‘Ponmo’ in some markets in the state, warning the people against its consumption.

The government said some unscrupulous businessmen were taking advantage of the gap in demand and supply of the soup ingredient  popularly called ‘Ponmo’ to sell industrial ‘Ponmo’ laden with tanning chemicals to the unsuspecting public.

The state commissioner for Agriculture, Ronke Sokefun raised the alarm, Thursday, while addressing stakeholders and ‘Ponmo’ sellers in her office, in Abeokuta.

Sokefun explained that the toxic ‘Ponmo’ otherwise known as ‘imported ponmo’ is often brownish black, foul smelling, abnormally thick with layers and ridiculously cheap compared to the certified ponmo.

According to her, what is being sold is raw hide meant for leather production from African and European countries like Sudan, Italy and Japan.

“Tanning chemicals like biocides and fungicides are added along the processing chain to preserve the hides against protein degradation, bacteria and mould growth that would have damaged the hides and skin,” she said.