10th September, 2014
Eromosele Ebhomele
Nigerians are not taking the proposed ban on the consumption of hides and skin, better known in the country as ponmo, lightly.
Ponmo is the skin of animals, majorly cattle, prepared into soup and stew. It is a delicacy eaten in many parts of the country, but more in the Yoruba-speaking areas of Nigeria.
The Federal Government, through the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwunmi Adesina, had announced on Tuesday that it planned to ban the consumption of ponmo when it called for regulations on the consumption and sales of the product.
Speaking at the third joint anniversary of the Animal Science Association of Nigeria and the Nigeria Institute of Animal Science held at the University of Ibadan, Adesina, represented by the Director of Animal Production and Husbandry in the Ministry, Dr. Ademola Raji, argued that stopping the consumption of ponmo would benefit animal farmers.
“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,” the Minister said.
However, shortly after the event, Nigerians took to social media sites to vent their anger against the proposition by the government with some saying the Federal Government was trying to provoke the people.
With different but funny hash-tags like #BringbackOurPonmo, #ourPonmoOrNothing, #SavePonmo, #Donottouchanyponmo, and #YouCantBanAnyPonmo, one of the respondents simply said “RIP Ponmo (1976BC-2014AD).”
Comically, a respondent asked: “why are they banning ponmo? Ponmo never hurt anyone, ponmo never embezzled, ponmo never abducted schoolgirls, ponmo never ran for president.
Another respondent tweeting @mzseaun said: “take electricity and give us ponmo.”
Mazi Mperempe, tweeting @tonypox, said: “if this ponmo ban is true, then this administration is touching the one thing that will bring about the much awaited revolution we seek. And it will be televised.
I tell you! I will totally refuse to live in a world without ponmo.”
Tholar Lee said: “if it is not ponmo…it can never be like ponmo”
@Emveepee said: “the ‘white ponmo’ you can ban, but don’t touch our brown ponmo, we’ll start war,” but was however countered by those who created #Donottouchanyponmo.
While one respondent claimed that ponmo causes ‘zoonotic’ disease, Remi Opakunle, another respondent countered him asking him to stop the argument and asking further: “which food product cannot transmit any disease?”
Opakunle went further to lecture that ponmo is a multi-billion dollar business and that it helps in balance of trade.
While Adesokun Kolawole said the proposed ban is one of the anti-people policies of the government, Obi Majulum simply warned the government not to dare the people with the proposed ban.
Onye Nkuzi said: “government cannot ‘ban ponmo’, it’s like banning egusi soup-a futile venture,” while @gboukzi warned: “there will be a riot in this Nigeria if ponmo is banned. I will personally lead troops from Ibadan to Abuja.”
Tioluwaniope, tweeting @yelecapri10 wondered if the government has thought about the many people who would loose their jobs if it bans ponmo. “All those people that carry bucket-full of ponmo about nko? And they say they are creating jobs,” she lamented.
Many others praised what they called the glory of ponmo in any Nigerian soup and how it gets people salivating.
Rinsola Abiola said: “nothing compares to the joy you feel when you bite into a succulent ponmo especially with efo riro (boiled vegetable soup).”
Tweeting @femiTRIPP, one respondent said President Goodluck Jonathan was joking with the votes of his village people “with this his ponmo ban agenda.”
Though ponmo is argued as having no nutritional value, some of the respondents disputed the claim. One of them wondered: “something that sweet has no nutrients? Who told you I want nutrients sef? And who even came up with the idea that ponmo has no nutrients? Show me the lab result or something.”
Ijoma simply tweeted that he was still trying to understand how the Federal Government would enforce the ponmo ban. “If I buy a cow, am I expected to ‘remit’ the ponmo to government or what?” He asked.
Supporting government’s move however, Nnamdi Anekwe-Chive said: “all you ponmo lovers are the reason Aba is not making shoes/scandals with quality leather. You have all gulped the leathers.”