Niger set to constitute task force on illegal abattoir.
By: Yahaya Zakka Minna.
Illegal abattoir operators in Niger state have been issued with a week notice to quit the illegal business or face the full wrath of the law.
This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dr. Ibrahim Garba Musa during a stakeholders meeting on Minna Abattoir Management at the Ministry’s headquarters in Minna on Tuesday, 10th May, 2022.
As part of the resolutions of the stakeholders including Chanchaga Local Government Council, State Chapter of the Nigeria Butchers Union, Sarkin Pawan Minna, Niger State Environmental Protection Agency (NISEPA), Nigeria Security Agencies, among others, the unlicensed slaughter slaps cum abattoir operators must move to the state recognised abattoir effective from the 11th May, 2022.
The Permanent Secretary decried the unhealthy and poor hygienic practices at the slaughter slaps and abattoirs stressing that ninety percent of diseases affacting man comes from animals and consumption of unhealthy meat which has made our body defence weak.
“We are all aware that today, if you go to our abattoir, some of us may not even want to eat meat. Meat is suppose to be as sterile as possible. That is why the government felt it necessary that the environment, any animal for slaughter and the meat must be inspected before it is passed for human consumption ” he said.
While pointing out that the Livestock and Fisheries Ministry was ready to grant operational licence to any applicant with requisite criteria, Dr. Ibrahim Garba Musa disclosed that only Minna Abattoir was officially recognised by the State Government.
He emphasized that henceforth, the Ministry will employ its expertise to carryout anti and post mortem inspection on any cattle and small ruminants before slaughter at the abattoir and therefore, solicited the support and cooperation of all stakeholders to achieve desired objectives.
In his remarks, the Madakin Pawa, Alhaji Ubale Ayawa who spoke on behalf of Sarkin Pawa, described the meeting as timely adding that series of similar meetings had been held in the past without any tangible result and therefore, expressed optimism that the Ministry under the present leadership will match words with action to achieve desired sanity in the abattoir industry.
Ayawa pointed out that in the past, no fewer than hundred cattles were slaughtered at Government approved abattoir on daily basis but now reduced to fifty due to proliferation of illegal abattoirs thereby reducing the Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) to the government.
He assured the Permanent Secretary of their unflinching support to achieve desired objectives.
