by Akan Ido

The Federal Government has given even more reasons why the consumption of hides and skins (better known as ponmo) is dangerous to health.

In a chat with newsmen on Tuesday, Isuwa Adamu, the Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Leather Science and Technology (NILEST), said ‘ponmo’ does not have nutritional benefits.

He said some of the skins harbour chemicals which are used to treat animals that may be suffering from skin diseases.

“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,’’ Mr. Adamu said.

He added that some of the animals killed had been ill and undergoing treatment but the rearers go ahead and kill them, leaving consumers vulnerable to chemicals in the animal skin.

“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.

“Remember your skin is the major protective organ of your body and your skin harbours so many of the harmful things that are supposed to penetrate into your body,’’ he explained.

Adamu said the institute is working on measures which will encourage a reduction in the consumption of ponmo by citizens – a development which would enhance the quality and quantity of raw hides and skin that are available to meet the demands of the tanneries.

Isime Esene