Lagos State government has shut two illegal slaughter slabs at Okeafa and Ejigbo over processing of unwholesome meat. The Commissioner for Agriculture, Toyin Suara, who announced the closure at the weekend, also suspended three other slabs for operating illegally. The commissioner warned that more slaughter slabs would soon be shut.
Suara described the moves as part of measures to curb the spread of unwholesome processed meat and meat products in Lagos. According to him, the slaughter slabs were shut as part of effort to put an end to the issue of unwholesome meat and meat products from unlicensed and illegal abattoirs. The commissioner warned operators of illegal and unlicensed abattoirs and slaughter slabs operating in the state to desist. According to him, other slaughter slabs whose activities were suspended are:
Idiaraba, Ashimowu (both by Lawanson in Mushin Local Government Area) and Ilupeju-Oshodi illegal sheep/goat slaughter slabs. He said: “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.”
The commissioner added that only Matori Modern Abattoir was the approved slab by government for any slaughtering activities in the area. He therefore urged butchers and the residents of these areas to patronise only the Matori Modern Abattoir. Suara added that Central Oko-Oba Abattoir is also open to all for all slaughtering activities.
