Anthrax: Ponmo consumption still high despite govt warning

Despite the warning by the Federal Government on the purchase of cow skin (ponmo) due to the outbreak of Anthrax disease in some neighboring countries, the trade in the commodity still thrives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) conducted a survey of some marketplaces in Lagos State, including Mushin, Egbeda, Oshodi, and Ikotun, and discovered that demand for ponmo has not decreased.

This is in spite of the announcement made by the government.

The Federal Government had, on June 13, alerted the general public, to the outbreak of anthrax disease in some neighboring countries within the West African sub-region.

It advised Nigerians to desist from the consumption of hides at the moment.

The statement read in part, “The disease, which has claimed some lives, is a bacterial disease that affects both animals and man that is a zoonotic disease”.

Anthrax spores are naturally prevalent in soil and regularly afflict both domestic and wild animals, according to the report.

It was expressly noted that the sickness was widespread in Northern Ghana, which borders Burkina Faso and Togo.

A housewife, Mrs Adewunmi Onalaja, told NAN that she did not know how to stop buying ponmo because her family enjoyed 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.

Chidera Ezeokocha, who runs a restaurant at Egbeda, told NAN that cooking local delicacies such as Afang, Edikaikong, and Egusi stew are almost impossible without cowhides.

“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.

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.

“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 government revived an anthrax control standing committee under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Coming into contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products can expose people to anthrax spores.

The silver lining is the fact that Anthrax is not a contagious disease, so one cannot get it by coming in close contact with an infected person.

The signs of anthrax are flu-like symptoms such as cough, fever, muscle aches, and if not diagnosed and treated early, leads to pneumonia, severe lung problems, difficulty in breathing, shock, and death.

NAN