Niger State set up task force on illegal abattoirs/Slaughtering slabs

Niger State government in North central Nigeria, has set up a task force on the activities of illegal slaughtering centers, in efforts to control outbreak of infectious diseases across the State.

The Taskforce according to spokesperson of the Niger State Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Abubakar Kuta, is for the enforcement of animals slaughtering at the government designated areas for proper monitoring on hygienic and security issues.

“The state government would not fold its arms watching unguided individuals supplying contaminated meat to the public’s without any form of control and that is why the taskforce would sustain operations until all illegal slaughter slabs move to the centralized Abattoir at Tayi Village in Minna,” Kuta added.

Kuta further said, a team led by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dr. Ibrahim Garba Musa has recently arrested 23 people in connection to Indiscriminate slaughtering of animals on unhealthy environments.

“There could be security implications because some of them could be stolen by bandits or dead or unhealthy animals.”

Kuta who said the arrested culprits would be charged to court, warned butchers operating in the state to always comply with the government directives on the usage of government approved slaughtering centres for security and hygienic environments.

About 600 cows are estimated to be slaughtered daily in the Niger State main abbatoir in Minna the state capital.

Report Shows that One of the major challenges in almost all abattoirs across major cities in Nigeria is non-adherence to standard rules of meat processing, especially in the areas of sanitation, slaughtering facilities, handling and movements slaughtered animals.

Experts are of the views that establishment of data base of abattoirs and slaughter slaps for proper monitoring and delivery of healthy meats to the people.