News of a possible ban on ‘ponmo,’ or hide by the federal government broke out this week. And while some are having jitters about it, I choose to laugh out loud for various reasons.
Vanguard reported the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, saying, at the 3rd joint anniversary of Animal Science Association of Nigeria (ASAN) and Nigeria Institute of Animal Science held at the University of Ibadan, "I also commend NIAS for its advocacy and public enlightenment programs on Radio and Television that promote value addition in Livestock, as against sale and consumption of primary products alone, particularly with the issue of curtailing the widespread consumption of hides and skins as Kpomo which ought to be tanned into leather for a very high dollar return to the farmer and Tanneries.
"I expect that competent regulations acceptable by all stakeholders will be developed so as to give credibility that our set standards for food safety are being implemented which will boost value addition.”
In case you don’t know what ‘ponmo’ is, it is the hide or skin of animals like cows. Basically, when cows are slaughtered, the hairs on the skins are removed through burning or scrapping with hot water. Walk into any Nigerian local restuarant and ask for "showboy" and you'd be offered a deliciously prepared 'ponmo.'
While some countries have made use of this part of animals to make leather bags and shoes, Nigerians and some countries around have also found a way of making yummy delicacies out of it. This tradition dates way back, perhaps before Nigeria gained her independence.
Meals like ‘Abacha’ (not the late head of state), Afang soup, Ewedu, Stew, etc have contained ‘ponmo’ even at and in various occasions.
‘Ponmo’ or hide, skin is relatively cheap compared to other parts of a cow or goat, hence its greater appeal to the poor citizenry who live on less than a dollar a day. It must be noted that the very opulent members of the society have often parked their vehicles to shop for ‘ponmo’ at shopping malls and restaurants due to the yummy taste it provides for meals. ‘Ponmo’ is not just for the poor, it has found its way into mansions and I bet the federal government to prove me wrong that it hasn’t been eaten inside Aso Rock!
- ALL SOCIAL STRATA EATS 'PONMO'
WHAT ABOUT HEALTH REASONS?
Really, the nutritional value of ‘ponmo’ has been a subject of intense debate over the years. Nutritionists have presented various arguments that ‘ponmo’ has no nutritional benefits. While nutritionists may have their evidence, majority of ‘ponmo’ eaters have not really exhibited much evidence to support that claim. In fact eaters are not really malnourished because of ‘ponmo.’
Till date, nothing suggests that clean and fresh ‘ponmo’ causes any health problems.
Perhaps the mode of preservation has been a problem when people resort to dangerous chemicals which can trigger cancer. But that is what should be tackled. Greedy merchants will always resort to unscrupulous ways to make quick money to the detriment of the many. Consider this; won’t it be better to search out for those who adulterate kerosene rather that an outright ban on kerosene? In the same vein, won’t it be better to go after these greedy or uneducated ‘ponmo’ merchants?
- UNCOOKED 'PONMO'
WHAT ABOUT THE PLACEBO EFFECT?
I recall a story of a woman who insisted that she needed drugs to get better, even though the doctor knew she only needed rest. The doctor resorted to giving her a placebo; she slept and woke up much better, thinking that the drug she requested was what did the trick.
Some who have been advised against eating red meat for health reasons have resorted to ‘ponmo’ as a placebo since ‘ponmo’ takes care of the taste that fish doesn’t provide.
WHAT ABOUT THE ECOMONIC BENEFITS?
In a country where many are struggling to have a job, selling ‘ponmo’ or dishes made from hide skin has been an alibi from frustrations and deprivations that could have emanated from having nothing to do.
Being an export economy is indeed a welcome development. But how is regulating the consumption of ‘ponmo’ going to aid export? There are areas that have been begging for export incentives. For instance, the commercial city of Aba, also called the Taiwan of Africa, suites, shoes, bags and other accessories are being produced. But the artisans complain that the competition from China is just not making it easy for them to sell to other states of the country, let alone export to other countries. So is the consumption of ‘showboy’ or ‘ponmo’ the reason for those bags and shoes not leaving the shores of this country?
THE MORAL ANGLE
There are many consumables that would really require a ban, but have not been banned. Can someone tell me the nutritional benefit of cigarette? If anything, tobacco has been responsible for many diseases like lung cancers which have decimated many of the productive citizenry, and yet tobacco companies and merchants are registered and tolerated.
Yes, a caveat is advertised, ‘smokers are liable to die young.’ But who says that the ministry of orientation cannot put up a ‘warning’ that says: “Sole reliance on ‘ponmo’ for nutritional protein is dangerous to health?”
REACTIONS FROM POPULACE
If Americans or the Britons love and eat ‘ponmo’ the way it is consumed in Nigeria, I bet that any candidate that makes it a subject for ban can as well forget a large section of the electorate. Need I say what ‘ponmo’ ban can tell the ordinary man on the street about a ban sponsor? Even some of the rich will secretly despise anyone who touches ‘ponmo.’
Some Nigerians, reacting to any move against 'ponmo,' are expressing disastifactions - see below:
DO I LOVE PONMO?
- UKAZI & AMALA COOKED WITH 'PONMO'
I can’t really remember when last I ate it, but I have seen the love that people exhibit towards ‘ponmo,’ and it is not much different from the love most toddlers feel for sucking breast milk.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?
If anything, students of nutrition, lab scientists and other relevant disciplines, with governmental aid, should research how to properly preserve ‘ponmo’ in safer ways, and at cheaper costs, without endangering consumers.
There are more dangerous consumables that are begging for outright ban.
Like the biblical and proverbial statement ‘touch not my anointed,’ many will be saying right now, ‘touch not my ponmo.’
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