Butchers at the Eleme
Abattoir in the Eleme Local Government Area have carried on with their business  as usual despite the threat by the Rivers State Government to close down the abattoir if its poor hygienic condition is not improved.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Dr Nyema Weli in a visit to the area during the last environmental sanitation exercise threatened that the state government may close down the abattoir if its sanitary conditions are not improved.
Dr Weli had warned the butchers against using tyres to burn the slaughtered animals and washing of the animals in the Aleto Stream allegedly contaminated by industrial and human wastes and other unhygienic practices in the area.
However, when The Tide visited the abattoir on Monday, the butchers were as usual going about their businesses without complying with the directive by the commissioner.
Some who spoke to The Tide, said that they lacked the capacity to provide a borehole as the administration of the abattoir was under the jurisdiction of the Eleme Local Government  Council.  .
An official of the Butchers Association told The Tide under condition of anonymity that series of petitions had been written to the Eleme local government council complaining about lack of water in the area, but up till this moment no effort has been made by the council to rectify the situation.
He said that the association members are ready to comply with the commissioner’s directive, if a conducive environment is provided for them.
At the Eleme local government council an officer who spoke under condition of anonymity said that the council is not aware of the complaints by the Butchers Association.
The Commissioner for Environment, Dr Nyema Weli could not be reached for his comment as he was alleged to be out of the state.