‘Sorry, We Cannot Stop Eating Ponmo, Despite Anthrax’

‘Sorry, We Cannot Stop Eating Ponmo, despite the threat it poses in the light of the ravaging Anthrax, and in spite of the federal government warning, some Lagos residents have said.

The resident stated this apology while interacting with NAN.

The Eagle reports that the Federal Government, had in the wake of the outbreak of Anthrax disease in some neighbouring West African countries, warned Nigerians against continued consumption of hides, commonly called ponmo, given its implications.

But residents who responded to a survey said it was difficult complying with the directive, proferring reasons why.

A housewife, Mrs Adewunmi Onalaja for example, confessed that ponmo was a favourable delicacy and that she did not know how to stop buying it.

“I’d be lying if I say I haven’t heard the announcement, but it’s hard to comply. When the news broke out, I was afraid initially but after a week I spoke with my customer and she told me she hasn’t gone to the market of late, so I bought from her.

“The only precaution I will take is that when the one I stocked up from my customer finishes, I will stop buying till it’s safe,” Onalaja said.

Another resident, Chidera Ezeokocha, who runs a restaurant at Egbeda, said ponmo was a culinary accompaniment for treasured soups like Afang, Edikaikong, and Egusi soup and that preparing these without ponmo was inconceivable.

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“I still put ponmo in my soups, those soups are incomplete without them, but I make sure I season it well. I thought the announcement was to alert us about poisonous ponmo.

“If I see a ponmo that is not good I will know, I have been in this food business long enough for me to know that a particular ponmo is bad,” Chidera said.

Sakirat Rafiu, who hawks peppered cow skin, said she doubted if Nigerians could obey the government’s warning.

“The truth is that I don’t believe Nigerians will stop trading in ponmo, except they start getting arrested, which I am not sure is possible.

“Ponmo is cheap and demand for it is high and with how expensive things are, people don’t have a choice,” she said.

From many quarters, the retort is the same: We cannot stop eating ponmo

Kikiopefoluwa Idris, a businesswoman, said that she couldn’t be bothered about the warning on ponmo consumption because she had never been a fan of ponmo.

“I have always preferred the dried ponmo; the ones you have to dip inside water to soften it. I buy that in bulk because it has a longer lifespan than the fresh ones displayed in the open market,” Idris said.

On her part, Mrs Esther Adebamowo, the Market Leader (Iyaloja), Olugbede Market in Egbeda, appealed to buyers and sellers to comply with the government’s directive.

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“Government knows it all, and they’re particular about our wellbeing. I’d advise that we listen to them, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

“On our part, there’s nothing we can do to stop the buying and selling of ponmo, except government comes out to say anyone caught selling or buying will be punished.

“I as Iyaloja can’t sanction the sellers,” Adebamowo said.

The Eagle reports that since the break of the story, there has been an increasing interest on what Anthrax is and the implication of contracting it.

According to the Centres for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis.

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The centre adds that Anthrax, which occurs naturally in soil, commonly affects domestic and wild animals around the world.

“People can get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. Anthrax can cause severe illness in both humans and animals”. It says.