The Lagos State Butchers Association is seeking approval from the Lagos State Government to kick off a pilot ranching scheme at the Oko-Oba Abattoir while awaiting land allocation for its larger “Eko Ranches” initiative.
The association’s Deputy State Chairman, Alhaji Wasiu Akande, revealed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), explaining that the move aims to enable butchers to participate directly in cattle production and significantly reduce reliance on livestock transported from long distances.
According to Akande, the ranching project was conceived about three years ago as an idea to transform local meat production. The association formed a dedicated committee and officially registered the initiative under the name “Eko Ranches” with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
To bring the vision to life, the association applied to the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture to lease 25 acres of government-owned land in Epe, primarily intended for cultivating cattle feed, a crucial element of the ranching process. However, the allocation remains pending due to government delays, ongoing planning, security assessments, and the provision of required infrastructure, alongside competing applications from private companies and investors.
Rather than waiting indefinitely, the association’s leadership and members recently resolved to request approval for two currently unused structures at the Oko-Oba Abattoir to run a smaller-scale test project.
“We have agreed to apply for two structures to start a test run. We are not relenting on it, and we feel we can start by test-running the project,” Akande said, emphasizing that the pilot scheme will allow them to commence operations while continuing to pursue the land allocation in Epe.
Akande added that the leadership has kept its members fully informed across all local government chapters. Key updates are routinely shared with local chairmen, secretaries, and women leaders who act as ambassadors delivering information to butchers operating in markets statewide.
Despite the operational and logistical hurdles, the association remains committed to engaging relevant state authorities to secure necessary approvals and infrastructure, paving the way for a more sustainable and localised livestock industry in Lagos State.
