By Dipo Awojobi – The Lagos State Government at the weekend shut two illegal abattoirs at Oke-Afa and Ejigbo; both located in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
According to the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Toyin Suarau, these slaughter slabs were shut as part of effort to put the issue of unwholesome meat and meat products from unlicensed and illegal abattoirs and slaughter slabs to a total halt and guarantee wholesomeness in the process of meat that residents of Lagos consume.
Suarau, while sounding a note of warning to operators of illegal and unlicensed abattoirs and slaughter slabs operating in the State; also said that the State Government had ordered an immediate stop to all slaughtering activities in Idiaraba, Ashimowu (both by Lawanson in Mushin LGA) and Ilupeju-Oshodi illegal sheep/goats slaughter slabs.
“Any butcher or group of butchers caught at any of these illegal and unlicensed abattoirs and slaughter slabs or violate this order will be prosecuted and henceforth have their meat confiscated,” he warned.
The Commissioner noted that for butchers and residents of the aforementioned areas where these illegal and unlicensed abattoirs and slaughter slabs operates, only Matori Modern Abattoir was the closet and approved slab by the State Government for any slaughtering activities.
He, therefore, urged butchers and the residents of these areas to patronize only the Matori Modern Abattoir, adding that Central Oko-oba Abattoir is also open to all for all slaughtering activities.
“Government will continue to close down illegal Abattoirs and Slaughter Slabs which are not hygienic and not in compliance with the relevant laws governing meat slaughtering in the state,” Suarau said.
He said that the issue of animal slaughtering was still a big issue because a lot of animals must be inspected before and after slaughtering according to the meat inspection law.
“The danger with unrecognized abattoirs is that the animals slaughtered there are not inspected by veterinary professionals to detect the one that has diseased or pregnant ones because it is illegal to slaughter pregnant animal,” he revealed.
The Commissioner who stressed that government ultimatum to operators of unauthorized abattoir within the State to close down operations has elapsed noted that Government can no longer tolerate such illegal practice.
According to Suarau, “We have veterinary officers deployed to all recognised abattoirs in the state to inspect and certify the meat hygienic for human consumption and that is why we are advocating that all illegal abattoirs in State should be shut down.”
He, however, reiterated that government would continue to clamp down and arrest operators of any abattoirs within the nooks and crannies of the state that is not licensed or approved.
