Lagos State Government has shut down the popular Oko Iba Abattoir at Agege area of the state over poor sanitary condition, waste mismanagement and unhygienic handling of animal products.
The state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, ordered the closure of the abattoir on Thursday.
Wahab took the decision after an extensive inspection tour of the Abattoir
He said his Ministry received a petition from the Ministry of Agriculture to intervene as regards various environmental and health infractions going on at the abattoir.
Wahab said what he witnessed at the abattoir during the inspection tour was heart-wrenching.
According to him, “The operators have defied and chosen to take the laws into their hands as they slaughter animals and discharge the waste into the public drainage system with impunity, and this is unacceptable”.
He said that upon the visitation to the abattoir, it was observed that the operators discharge all animal wastes into the public drainage channels leading to the “Harmony” part of the Abattoir while also discharging their animal wastes into another company named Forth-Walt Farm on Wasiu Olaife Street.
He said the state government will not condone any act of uncleanliness and environmental degradation in the abattoir.
He said that there are Environmental Laws guiding abattoir operations in the state, adding that waste water and blood generated from meat processing should be adequately passed through the treatment plant and not to be discharged in the public drains.
He warned that all Abattoir operators must adhere strictly to the minimum benchmark of the state, saying operators cannot choose to defy and or choose their laws by blackmailing people as if that is the right way of life.
Wahab stated that the enforcement operation at the Abattoir at Oko-Oba will be a Joint operation involving the Environment Ministry, Agriculture, LASEPA, LASWMO and LAWMA.
He said it is quite unfortunate that people do not like seeing the carrot until the big stick is wielded to affirm that the government would always maintain its stand.
The Commissioner also visited Adetola canal by Johathan Coker street in Iju, where some bad elements had vandalised the Iron rod that serves as reinforcement to the canal.
He, however, said the lining of the canal has just been awarded to effectively discharge into Oko-Oba canal.
“We have compelled the CDAs of this community to take ownership and protect the infrastructure because the government cannot provide and also police the infrastructure.
“This situation tells you how bad the intentions of some people are,” he said.
He advised residents to always pay for the services provided by PSP waste operators and desist from patronising the cart pushers and illegal waste disposal means.
He added that the State government has continued to prosecute all those caught disposing off waste indiscriminately in the past few weeks, maintaining that the government will continue to do so in accordance with the law.
The Commissioner was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite; MD of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin; KAI Corps Marshal, Major Olatunbosun Cole (Rtd); GM of LASWMO, Engr Adefemi Afolabi and other Directors from the Ministry and its Agencies.
Places visited include Oko-Oba Abattoir, Agege; Adetola Canal by Jonathan Coker street, Fagba, Iju in Ifako Ijaiye Local Government.