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LASG TRAINS BUTCHERS ON ABATTOIR HYGIENE

Lagos State Government has once again reiterated its resolve not to condone any act of unhygienic meat slaughtering in abattoirs and slaughter slabs across the State, just as it read the riot act to butchers at the Oko-Oba abattoir to desist from the unwholesome way of meat slaughtering and transportation.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau, who disclosed this at a stakeholders’ workshop organized by the Ministry of Agriculture for Oko-Oba Abattoir butchers, noted that the present administration is committed to ensuring that all operations in the State abattoirs meet international standards.

Suarau added that the workshop is targeted at improving the skills of butchers especially at the Oko-Oba abattoir, stressing that the State government will not relent in making and implementing policies targeted towards giving the State abattoirs the mega city status it deserves.

He informed that rehabilitation works as well as implementation of policy which includes: removal of shanties, ban on Okada as means of transportation, use of the refrigerated meat vans in meat transportation, deployment of experienced veterinary officers to abattoirs and slaughter slabs amongst others have been carried out at the Oko-oba abattoir and other abattoirs in the State.

The Commissioner added that the State government will not relent in its policy implementation, assuring that the Oko Oba abattoir and Lairage Complex will soon take a new shape.

He opined that it is necessary to monitor the whole process of meat handling right from the animal markets to abattoirs, and even transportation, saying that introduction of the Eko Refrigerated Meat Van had eradicated the previous obnoxious meat transportation system.

Suarau said that the training was organised for butchers in the State to put a permanent end to illegal slaughtering activities in abattoirs.

“This is a time to correct all ills of the animal market and abattoirs in general so that no butcher will have an excuse for any form of illegal practices”, he said.

The Commissioner stated further that the training has been designed in such a way that it will go a long way in developing the skills of butchers and keeping them abreast of modern-day best practices in abattoir services.

He, therefore, urged all participants at the workshop to make good use of lessons learnt from the training adding that it will enhance their skills.

 
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture,
Dr. Olayiwole Onasanya, who was also present at the workshop spoke extensively on the significance of ensuring hygienic slaughtering activities of the market and stressed that the government will not relent in its efforts in upgrading and regulating the activities of all slaughterhouses in the State.

He noted that the State has a standard for what a mega city abattoir should look like, urging the butchers to give the government maximum support to achieve the essence of the training to enhance the implementation of government policies through a high level of policy compliance after the training.

 Responding, the Chairman of Lagos Butchers Association, Alhaji Malomo Baki Yusuf, commended the State government for organizing the training and assured that butchers in the State will give maximum support to the government in its policy implementation.

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