An Environmentalist, Mr Toyin Oshaniwa, on Tuesday expressed support for eviction of the cow skin processors at the Oko-Oba Abattoir, Agege, by the Lagos State Government.
Oshaniwa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the use of tyre to process cow skin, popularly known as `Ponmo’, was highly injurious to the health of Lagos residents.
He urged the state government to provide smoking kiln, as done in the fish-drying chain of aquaculture.
“The process of using tyres to process ‘Ponmo’ is highly toxic to man’s health and can cause severe damage to the well-being of consumers and even people living in that vicinity.
“So, I honestly support the move to stop further processing of the commodity in that manner by the state government.
“Alternatively, government should build efficient burning chambers and smoking kiln like those used for drying fish,’’ Oshaniwa said.
NAN reports that the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Toyin Suarau, had, on Sunday, shut down activities and dislodged the processors of the commodity at the market.
Suarau said that the closure became necessary because of the danger `ponmo’ preparation posed to the health of the people in the area.
“The ponmo processors use heaps of burning tyres, thereby, emitting thick toxic smoke into the air and endangering residents of the adjoining neighbourhood.
“This bonfire emits a thick toxic smoke which spreads from within the complex to adjoining neighbourhood, endangering lives including those of the processors themselves,’’ he said.
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