Lagos State is seeking for private sector’s buy-in to develop semi-mechanised abattoirs in Epe and Ojo, a move aimed at ensuring the delivery of wholesome meat to homes, restaurants and hotels in the state.
The mechanised abattoirs are proposed as the government has declared zero-tolerance for illegal development of slaughter slabs, with officials empowered to close down and arrest operators of such facilities in and around the state.
“We have just closed down one in Lekki and intend to comb the nooks and crannies of the state to ensure that no illegal abattoir is allowed,” said Olayiwole Onasanya, the permanent secretary in the Lagos State ministry of agriculture, in an interview with BusinessDay.
In addition to the proposed semi-mechanised abattoirs, the government is also looking to building 10 other smaller abattoirs in partnership with the private investors, all aimed at meeting the meat consumption need of the growing population. The state’s population is estimated at 21 million people.
Onasanya said the two semi-mechanised abattoirs are designed to slaughter 800 to 1000 cattle (each) per day, in line with industry operating standards. According to him, they are to be delivered on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The other 10 smaller abattoirs are proposed to have capacity for 200 to 400 cattle per day and would be executed through “defined negotiated periods.” In addition, the investors would be required to ensure compliance with all state statutory requirements and relevant procedures.
“All required designs and construction shall be in compliance with the industry best practices. The operation of the projects shall be subject to regulations and standards issued by the ministry of agriculture or any other relevant statutory regulatory agency,” Onasanya said, adding that Ajegunle, Oshodi, Badagry, Ikorodu are among the areas listed to site the smaller abattoirs.
Among things expected to be done in bigger abattoirs in the state including the one in Agege include the installation of facilities for waste conversion (Bio Gas Plant), construction of transit camp, provision of general cleaning services, construction of stripe processing facility as well as rehabilitation and maintenance of waste recycling plant.
The way and manner animals are slaughtered, processed and delivered to homes and restaurants in many Nigerian cities, has been and still a going concern to meat consumers.
In Lagos, notwithstanding measures by successive administrations, there are still concerns about the handling of meat in the state.
According to the government, the proposed new abattoirs and upgrade of facilities at the existing abattoirs is to check the menace of unhygienic processing and transportation of meat.
