Butchers Deny Meat Scarcity Rumour

General Secretary, Lagos State Butchers Stakeholders Forum, Oko-Oba, Agege, Alhaji Tanko Sodiq,  yesterday  denied the rumour that there was scarcity of meat in the state.

Sodiq stated  in Lagos that what caused a ‘minor‘ scarcity witnessed in some parts of the state over the weekend was a misunderstanding between the butchers and their leaders.

He identified some areas where the scarcity occurred to include Lagos Island and Mainland, Eti-Osa and some parts of Apapa.

“There was enough meat in the state; about 165 to 178 cows are being slaughtered daily, while at the weekends, about 200 cows are slaughtered.

“Some of the butchers came and bought meat as usual, on getting to their bases, they were stopped from selling by their union leaders. So, they moved the supplies to other areas to sell, “ he said.

Sodiq also mentioned hygiene as one of the challenges confronting the butchers at the abattoir, adding that the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and other environmental agencies had, however, brought the situation under control.

Other challenges, according to Sodiq, include the lack of policies for compensation and empowerment of butchers.

“There are instances where cows were slaughtered and the veterinary doctors come to do their inspection and cut off some parts or condemn the whole cow and the butchers are made to bear the loss.

“No compensation, no empowerment, it is the butchers that bear the total loss, “ he said.

Mr Omotayo Adere, a member of Lagos State Butchers Association, said that their leaders were not informing them adequately about decisions that affected them,

“For instance, we have every right to express our grievances because the cost of the butchers’ meat van was high and we have not included it in our budget, “ Adere said.

He, however, urged their leaders to carry their members along in the interest of peace.