May 27, 2022

The Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture has commenced an advocacy and sensitisation campaign targeted at butchers, especially those running illegal slaughter slabs and animal markets across the State, as a prelude to embarking on enforcement and compliance operations in line with the Meat and Hygiene Law.

Speaking on Thursday during an interactive session with representatives of the butchers at Igunu Street, Lagos Island, the Head of Monitoring, Enforcement and Control Unit, Dr. Gbolabo Kehinde, disclosed that his team has been saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that citizens consume wholesome cow meat that is clean and healthy.

He recalled an earlier statement by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, notifying the public that activities of the monitoring, enforcement and compliance team will start with advocacy, and anyone found operating illegally after the exercise will be dislodged, just as animals seized will be confiscated with no option of fine.

Dr. Kehinde further warned butchers to desist from sharp practices that involve operating illegal slaughter slabs within the red meat value chain to avoid dire consequences.

Reeling out the locations of both public and private-owned mechanised and semi-mechanised abattoirs across the State, he stated that veterinary doctors are assigned to the abattoirs to ensure hygienic meat is processed for consumption and reiterated that the Task Force would soon commence operations across the State.

In his response, the representative of the Butchers Association in Lagos and Secretary, Freelance Butchers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Sheu Omoowo-Olatunji gave assurance that members of the Association will abide by the rules of the State.