Lagos shuts down ‘ponmo’ processing section of Oko-Oba abattoir .

The Lagos State Government on Sunday shut down and dislodged the cow skin (popularly known as ponmo) processing section of the Oko-Oba abattoir and Lairage Complex in Agege. Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Toyin Suarau, led a team from the ministry in the company of men from the Lagos State Task Force to shut down the cow skin section of the abattoir. Suarau said “closure of the ponmo section and dislodgment of the processors became necessary because of the health hazards inherent in the unhealthy processing of ponmo. Suarau said “closure of the ponmo section and dislodgment of the processors became necessary because of the health hazards inherent in the unhealthy processing of ponmo. “The ponmo processors use heaps of burning tyres, thereby, emitting thick toxic smoke into the air endangering residents of the adjoining neighborhood. “This bonfire emits a thick toxic smoke which spreads from within the complex to adjoining neighborhoods, endangering the lives including those of the processors themselves.’’ According to the commissioner, burning tyres release a toxic soup with hundreds of the different toxic pollutants and small particles. He said such pollutants settle deep in the lungs while airborne emissions from open tire fires presented serious impact to health and the environment.