Beware Of Poisonous ‘Ponmo’ In Lagos Markets — Government

The Lagos State Government has warned residents of the state of the presence of poisonous ponmo (cow skin) in some markets in the state.

The warning was contained in a statement by the Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Adeola Salako.

Salako said three persons involved in the sale of the “poisonous ponmo” in Ojo and Iba local government areas of the state had been arrested.

The statement said the ponmo was seized in large quantities.

It said samples of the ponmo had been sent to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to test their suitability for consumption.

The statement said: “The Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, who disclosed this in his office yesterday while reviewing report of preliminary investigation and enforcement carried out on the sale of the toxic ponmo in the areas, stated that the three persons involved had been charged to court, while samples of the confiscated ponmo had been sent to the NAFDAC laboratory for suitability test analysis for human consumption.

“Preliminary investigations and suspects tracing revealed that the traders were very active between 4am and 6am at various locations such as Volkswagen bus stop, Iyana Iba, Afolabi Ege Markets, all within the Ojo local government and Iba local council areas of the state.

“Furthermore, a company said to be located at the Ijedodo area of Iba LCDA was indicted as the source of supply of this toxic ponmo and has subsequently been put under surveillance.”