Niger Delta
Experts Want Improved Sanitary Conditions In Abattoirs
Health experts have called for improved sanitary condition of abattoirs across the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State to prevent spread of preventable diseases among residents.
The experts in separate interviews with The Tide’s source in Benin on Monday, said there was urgent need for government to empower health personnel with requisite tools to enable them effectively function and ensure that consumers were served healthy meats from the abattoirs.
Prof. Myke Omoigberale, Chairman, Nigeria Environmental Society, Edo chapter, told the source that there was need for sanitary inspectors and vetirinary doctors to be empowered and motivated to effectively discharge their primary duties of monitoring the abattoirs.
Omoigberale, a Professor of animal and environmental science, lamented that those saddled with the responsibility of monitoring the abattoirs were no longer doing the job because of lack of motivation.
“When it comes to the issue of abattoirs in Edo , I think that there is much the government can do to maintain them by putting control mechanism in place to regulate their activities.
“If you ever go to a typical abattoir in Edo, you will not want to eat meat again.
“Incidentally, I and one of my post graduate students just finished a research on the impact of abattoirs’ waste on fishes in Ikpoba river.
“And the result we got was not very encouraging; the waste from abattoirs are very toxic.
“We discovered that the untreated waste they wash into the river has negative impact on aquatic lives”, he said.
According to him, in developed countries, If you go to the abattoirs, you won’t even perceive any odour of meat being slaughtered.
“But in Nigeria, it is the opposite because we do not put hygiene first, you will marvel at the condition under which these animals are slaughtered.
“Most times they slaughter the animals on bare ground; step on them, carry the meat on their head, carry them on motorcycles, exposing the meat to different elements and diseases.
“Our abattoirs are time bombs waiting to happen in terms of diseases as a result of poor maintenance and poor handling of meat”, he said.
Omoigberale, however, stressed the need for animals to be thoroughly examined by vetirinary doctors to be sure that they were healthy for consumption to avoid transmission of diseases to human beings.
He called on government to set up monitoring teams whose members would monitor activities of these slaughter houses to ensure that the animals were healthy and slaughtered in very hygienic environment.
According to him, we all know the standard required for something that you will put in your mouth. You will agree with me that what is currently obtainable in our abattoirs does not meet the standard required standard.
Corroborating Omoigberale ‘s view, Dr Thomas Haruna, Director of vetirinary services, Edo State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, disclosed that Edo had more than 70 abattoirs owned by various local government areas and private individuals.
Haruna, however, noted that only a few out of that number were not functioning.
According to him, the major ones within the Benin metropolis.which were mostly privately owned, are functioning with government regulating their activities.
He said government had recently stepped up efforts in the control and supervision of these abattoirs.
Haruna noted that before animals were slaughtered, the vetirinary doctors carried out anti-mortem and postmortem inspections on the animals to be sure that they were fit for consumption.
“We have had cases where a full cow was condemned because we declared it not fit for consumption. So we carry out meat inspection before and after slaughtering.
“Infact, we currently have about four cases in court. These four people are being prosecuted for bringing donkey meat not approved into Edo from other states.
“We have also in the past, secured one conviction of someone who was also caught selling donkey meat in the state. Donkey meat is not approved for sale in Edo”, he said.
According to Haruna, relevant health departments have in recent times, taken the issue of abattoirs seriously.
“It has become one health programme where we ensure that the vetirinary doctors do the inspection of the animals before and after slaughtering and representative of the ministry of environment, ensures that the waste are properly disposed off.
The Federal Government has handed over 24,180 bags of 50kg maize and 5,828 bags of 25kg ‘garri’ to the Akwa Ibom State Government for distribution to vulnerable households.
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, made the presentation on behalf of the Federal Government in Uyo, the State Capital.
Represented by Mrs. Mmandu Aisueni, the Head, Operations, NEMA, Akwa Ibom State office, Umar said the donation was in fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s promise to Nigerians.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government approved the release of 42, 000 metric tonnes of assorted food items from the National Strategic Reserve to vulnerable households.
Umar said that the president’s promise was the government’s way of reducing the impact of the current economic hardship in the country.
“We are here to hand over the food items to the state government for distribution to the intended beneficiaries in the communities”, she said.
The NEMA D-G said that the food items should be shared in the communities through properly constituted committees at the local government levels.
She said membership of the local government committees should include the council chairman, representatives of the State Emergency Management Agency and the traditional institutions.
Umar said 20 per cent of the food items for each council area should be given to religious groups, and that three per cent of it should be given to boarding schools in the area.
Receiving the items, Dr Offiong Offor, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, commended the Federal Government for the intervention.
Offor said that the gesture was a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to the wellbeing of the citizenry.
The commissioner promised that the state government would ensure that the items were given to the intended beneficiaries.
The Delta State House of Assembly has commenced public hearing on the State Human Trafficking (Prohibition) Bill, 2024.
The Tide’s source reports that the public hearing was organised by the House Committee on Housing, Women Affairs, Humanitarian Support Services and Girl Child Entrepreneurship in Asaba.
Chairman of the committee, Mrs Bridget Anyafulu, said the hearing was to provide members of the public the opportunity to offer contributions to the proposed law.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure that the state has a law that adequately answers to the challenges it seems to address and satisfy the needs and aspirations of our people and society.
“We have invited you to join us to make a law that will help to effectively address and eradicate the odious practice of human trafficking in our state.
“We know that as stakeholders, the effective participation in making this law will go a long way in enhancing the quality of the law that will finally emerge from the process”, she said.
Anyafulu assured the stakeholders that the committee would look into their suggestions and consider areas that could help to strengthen the bill as well as enhance its quality.
On her part, the State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Community Support Services and Girl Child Development, Ms. Orode Uduaghan, called for the inclusion of the National Agency for the Protection of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in the implementation process.
It also reports that Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), State Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), among others, were involved in the public hearing.
They commended the State Executive for initiating the bill and called for its speedy passage.
A group, Concerned Obidient Movement, has declared support for Mr. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 21 Edo State governorship election.
Leader of the group, Mr. Ikhuenbor Igbinevbo, told newsmen in Benin that the election transcends individual personalities.
“It is a critical moment that will shape the future of Edo. The PDP is creating a climate of renewed political energy that promises sustainable progress.
“Its candidate, Ighodalo, and the deputy, Osarodion Ogie, possess the vision and qualifications that align with the aspirations of Edo people,” he said.
Igbinevbo highlighted the candidates’ deep understanding of the State’s challenges and potential which, he said, positions them to lead the state into a new era of prosperity and responsible governance.
He urged Edo people, both at home and in the Diaspora, to unite in their support for the PDP and its candidates ahead of the election.
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