Imported poisonous ‘ponmo’ distributed in Nigeria

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Sunday disclosed the  discovery of the distribution of poisonous animal skins (Ponmo) in Nigeria.  NAFDAC issued a warning over the interception of 120 tons, 40 trailer load, of harmful animal hides and skins, Ponmo in Lagos, disclosing that seven dealers were arrested by the agency in connection with the economic and health sabotage.

Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, therefore, alerted Ponmo consumers in Nigeria that unscrupulous businessmen and traders are distributing industrial animal hides meant for production of shoes, bags, belts, and other leather products as alternative meat to the people.

NAFDAC’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola,  in a statement on Sunday in Lagos, disclosed that NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement staff received intelligence on the various locations the poisonous ponmo were stored and distributed, and swung into action immediately. The Agency, according to the DG, confiscated 120 tons of poisonous ponmo valued at N25.330 million.

The imported hides and skins, ponmo, had been processed with industrial chemicals for production in the leather industry but were distributed in Nigeria as edible meat.

The NAFDAC DG, Adeyeye, noted that the poisonous ponmo were found being distributed in six locations in Lagos. she said that samples of the skins had been sent to a laboratory for testing in order to determine the product’s quality and risks linked with the eating of the ponmo.