The Lagos State Government on Thursday announced the shutting down of the Oko Oba Abattoir over unsanitary activities, waste mismanagement, and unhygienic handling of animal products.
This directive was given by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, after an inspection tour of the abattoir with the media.
Wahab said the Ministry received a petition from the Ministry of Agriculture to intervene as regards various environmental and health infractions going on at the abattoir.
According to him: “What was witnessed at the abattoir today is heart wrenching.
“The operators have defied and chosen to take laws into their hands as they slaughter animals and discharge the waste into the public drainage system with impunity and this is totally unacceptable.”
Wahab said upon the visit to the abattoir, it was observed that the operators discharge all animal wastes into the public drainage channels leading to the “Harmony” part, whilst also discharging their animal wastes into another company: 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 and neighbouring environment.
He maintained 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.
Wahab added: “The state government will take drastic and firm decisions to correct this attitude and make sure these operators abide by the law.
“Until they fully comply with the provisions of the law, this will not be a one-off.
“We will come back.
“If nothing is done right now about the present state of the abattoir, it is only a catastrophe waiting to happen.”
Wahab warned that all abattoir operators must adhere strictly to the minimum benchmark of the state, adding that operators cannot choose to defy and or choose their own laws by blackmailing people as if that is the right way of life.
The enforcement operation at the abattoir at Oko-Oba will be a joint one involving the Ministries of Environment and Water Resources and Agriculture, LASEPA, LASWMO, and LAWMA, saying it is quite unfortunate that people do not like seeing the carrot until the big stick is wielded affirming that the government would maintain its stand.
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The Commissioner also visited Adetola Canal by Johathan Coker Street in Iju, where some bad elements had vandalised the iron rod that served as reinforcement, saying incidentally the lining of the canal has just been awarded in order to effectively discharge into Oko-Oba canal.
Wahab 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.”
He advised residents to always pay for the services provided by PSP waste operators and desist from patronising cart pushers and illegal waste disposal means.
He said the state government has continued to prosecute all those caught disposing waste indiscriminately in the past few weeks, adding that it 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 LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin; KAI Corps Marshal, Major Olatunbosun Cole (retd); LASWMO GM, Engr. Adefemi Afolabi; and other Directors from the Ministry and its Agencies.
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