THE Lagos State Government has shut down the Oko-Oba Abattoir over unsanitary activities, waste mismanagement, and unhygienic handling of animal products.
This directive was given by the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, after an inspection tour with the media to Oko-Oba Abattoir in Agege.
Wahab said the ministry received a petition from the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture to intervene regarding various environmental and health infractions going on at the abattoir.
According to him, what was witnessed at the abattoir is heart-wrenching; the operators have defied and chosen to take the law into their own hands as they slaughter animals and discharge the waste into the public drainage system with impunity, and this is unacceptable.
He accused the Oko-Oba abattoir operators of discharging all animal wastes into the public drainage channels leading to the “Harmony” part of the abattoir.
The commissioner said the abattoir is discharging its animal wastes into another company named Forth-Walt Farm on Wasiu Olaife Street.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources added that the Lagos State Government will not condone any act of uncleanliness and environmental degradation in the abattoir and neighbouring environment.
Wahab maintained that there are environmental laws guiding abattoir operations in the state. He added that waste water and blood generated from meat processing should be adequately passed through the treatment plant and not be discharged into the public drains.
“The State Government will take drastic and firm decisions to correct this attitude and make sure these operators abide by the law,” the commissioner said.
He said, “If nothing is done right now about the present state of the abattoir, it is only a catastrophe waiting to happen”.
The commissioner warned that all abattoir operators must adhere strictly to the minimum benchmark of the state, saying operators can not choose to defy and or choose their laws by blackmailing people as if that is the right way of life.
According to him, the enforcement operation at the abattoir at Oko-Oba will be a joint operation involving the Environment Ministry, Agriculture, LASEPA, LASWMO, and LAWMA.
The Commissioner also visited Adetola Canal by Johathan Coker street in Iju, where some bad elements had vandalising the iron rod that serves as reinforcement to the Canal.
He said, “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 persons are”.
The commissioner also advised residents to always pay for the services provided by PSP waste operators and desist from patronizing the cart pushers and illegal waste disposal means.