A ponmo processing and supply centre on Igboliki Street in Akure, Ondo State, has been shut down following the reported discovery of buckets containing human faeces and urine on its premises during an environmental sanitation inspection.
The Chairman of Akure South Local Government Area, Hon. Gbenga Donald Fasua, ordered the immediate closure of the facility during the October edition of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
Fasua, who led a monitoring team through Oke Aro, Iro and Igboliki streets to assess compliance with environmental sanitation regulations, reportedly ordered the closure after the team inspected the facility, which was said to have been operating for more than 21 years.
According to reports from the inspection, two buckets containing human faeces were discovered on the premises. Video footage shared by the council chairman also reportedly showed containers holding suspected human waste, including urine, around the area where ponmo was processed.
The operator, who was present during the inspection, reportedly identified herself as the president of the Ponmo Sellers Association in Ondo State.
Expressing displeasure over the condition of the facility, Fasua directed that the operator be prosecuted in accordance with relevant environmental sanitation laws.
He also ordered the destruction of all products found at the premises, including processed ponmo, insisting that the business could not continue operating under the reported unhygienic conditions.
The council chairman further raised concerns about the possible public health implications of the discovery, alleging that the facility could pose a risk of cholera transmission in the area. However, no independent medical or laboratory findings confirming a cholera outbreak linked to the facility have been made public.
The development has raised concerns about food safety and the potential health risks posed by poor hygiene practices in the processing and handling of food products consumed by the public.
Ponmo, a popular food item in many Nigerian households, passes through various stages of processing and distribution before reaching markets and consumers. Health and food safety experts generally emphasise the need for hygienic processing environments, clean water and proper waste disposal to prevent contamination.
The reported discovery has also prompted questions about the adequacy of routine inspections and regulatory oversight of food-processing facilities, particularly establishments that have operated for many years.
Stakeholders are expected to intensify calls for stricter monitoring of food-handling businesses and the enforcement of sanitation standards to protect consumers from preventable health hazards.
The council's action underscores the importance of maintaining hygienic conditions in food-processing facilities and ensuring that businesses comply with public health regulations.
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