The Lagos State Government has directed the immediate reopening of the Abattoir at Oko-Oba.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the directive came following the fulfilment of sanitation and hygienic prescriptions by the operators.
“The operators have substantially complied with the minimum benchmark for the operations of abattoirs in the state, which was flagrantly flouted initially, necessitating the closure,” he wrote.
Wahab had earlier expressed displeasure with the state of the facility during an inspection before the closure, stating in a video that, “They slaughter animals, discharge waste into the public drainage system, and it’s just unacceptable.”
He also noted that some individuals were found sleeping in the market alongside animals, describing the situation as unsafe and unhygienic.
Part of the conditions listed by Wahab for the reopening were that, on a monthly basis, the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources officials will conduct a periodic inspection of the facilities at the abattoir.
“We therefore urge the operators to avoid unsanitary activities, waste mismanagement and unhygienic handling of animal products as they conduct their businesses,” the statement added.
