Toxic ‘ponmo’ hits Lagos, NAFDAC raises alarm

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has impounded no fewer than 120 tons of imported ponmo laden with chemical.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC in a statement explained that the large quantities of dangerous ‘Ponmo’ were intercepted at six different locations in Lagos.

According to her, investigation has commenced on seven suspects involved, and samples of the products have been sent to the laboratory for testing to ascertain the products’ quality and unhealthiness.

“The street value of the product currently intercepted is estimated to be around N25.330m only,” she said.

She advised Nigerians to be careful when buying ‘Ponmo’.

She believed the hides are pre-treated with industrial chemicals that are not of food-grade but are toxic and injurious to human health.

Consuming such products, she said, could cause damage to the liver, the kidney and the heart. It could also cause cancer, damage to the central nervous system, and others.