Ponmo Factory: Banning Ponmo Will Invariably Render Millions Of Human Component Jobless- Akande Olaoluwa
So many sounds everywhere, the frequent slashing of knives against each other, the continuous vibration of stainless cup, the rumbling boiling water, the continuous cough here and there, the continous sneezing, the random chat of bargaining…
They were all busy, it was as if it was getting dark, but the time on my watch said otherwise, it was still early, and there wasn’t any sign that it was about to rain, just when I was still anxious of the darkened atmosphere, I noticed the numerous burning furnace, it was then I knew that, they were actually the ones producing a lot of smoke which has actually end up creating a dark cloud…
Sweating profusely, with continuous coughing here and there, the work continues, it was non stop, it was like a Programmed Industrial Machine at work, They all knew their role, the “negotiators”, the “smokers”, the “peelers”, it was a continuous routine..
It was as if I was in the middle of it all, I basically took note of everything, few minutes there I already started having some weird feelings in my system, I obviously knew what was happening, I was Inhaling too much carbon monoxide, I was already feeling dizzy, tears dropping from my eyes, I couldn’t take it any longer, I just have to leave this place I said to my self…
Now at a distance I stared back at the Human Component Industrial Machine still at work, took a deep breath and said to my self if few minutes could have such effect on me, what about the Human Component themselves, this is basically their office, they earn their daily meal here, feed their family from what they earn here, this is their source of income; “A poisonous office” I called it…
I was preparing for school so I needed to get some stuff for school, part of what I needed to get was Ponmo, “Cow skin , popularly known as Kpomo , Ponmo or Kanda , preferred by most Nigerians . A regular sight at parties , it has become a preferred alternative for some. In fact , no ‘assorted’ is complete without Kpomo”…..
My quest for this special Substance led me to the abattoir, since I believe it should be cheap there, thats where everything comes from; I said to my self. But my search for ponmo gave me the opportunity to witness the danger people face to earn a living in this country….
The Human Component Industrial Machine is made of flesh humans not robots, but humans just like you and I, they basically earn their daily meal, pay for their rent, school fees and other things in a poisonous office everyday.
The Nigerian government made a move to ban this meat ‘Ponmo’ but was met with resistance by members of the general public. Yes to be sincere probably it should be ban because hazardous materials like, tyres , dustbin composite as well as other particles are added to the locally made burning furnace used in its preparation, this in turns activates Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ( PAHs) which exposes a person to a great risk of cancer and also long exposure to the fumes emitted from the burnt tyres might also cause vital organs in the body system to malfunction and also result to various gastrointestinal cancers and some other dangerous diseases.
With all these scary risks faced daily by those Processing [Human Component] and consuming ponmo one would basically support the move of the Government, but how then will the Human Component survive, how then will the “Negotiators” earn a living, how will the “Smokers” pay for the fees of their ward, how will the “Peelers” pay their rent…
Banning Ponmo will invariably render millions of Human Component Jobless, these are the day to day tagged *”Lazy Nigerians”*….
Instead of rendering Human Component jobless, why can’t the government do the needful; there are basically better methods of production, complemented with appropriate monitoring and public health inspection as well as certification, all these requires the intervention no other person but the Government…
Human Component is dying gradually;
Sweating profusely , coughing frequently, tears dropping from the Human Component eyes yet it keeps on working, it keeps on working…
*Note:* This article was never meant to castigate anyone but to call out for help, the Human Component is dying daily, I beseech you reading this piece to do all your possible best to aid rescuing the Human Component, you never can tell, your little could go a long way *[You might not be the “government” today, you might be tomorrow, don’t forget there are diverse Human Component out there, dying daily.
I dedicate my birthday to every Human Component out there sacrificing their health daily in order to earn a living, I pray the Good Lord up there send help to us all.
Akande Olaoluwa is a student of LAUTECH,
He can be reached via 08031372979