Butchers operating at the popular Oko-Oba Abattoir in the Agege area of Lagos State have relocated to nearby residential houses to continue their business days after the state government shut down the facility.
An investigation by THE WHISTLER on Wednesday revealed that many butchers are now slaughtering animals in residential houses around Agric Road, which is in close proximity to the abattoir.
Our correspondent gathered that the houses were temporarily leased to the butchers following negotiations with the property owners.
The Lagos State Government ordered the closure of the abattoir last Thursday over reports of unsanitary practices, poor waste management, and unhygienic meat processing.
The directive came after an extensive inspection led by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab.
According to Wahab, the Ministry of Agriculture petitioned his office to intervene due to ongoing environmental and public health violations at the facility.
During the inspection, it was discovered that waste from animal slaughtering was being discharged into public drains, particularly those leading to the “Harmony” section of the abattoir and another facility, Forth-Walt Farm, located on Wasiu Olaife Street.
Wahab emphasized that the state would no longer tolerate such environmental abuse.
According to him, abattoirs are bound by strict environmental laws, including the requirement that wastewater and blood from meat processing be treated properly before disposal, rather than being discharged into open drains.
“The State Government will take drastic and firm decisions to correct this attitude and make sure these operators abide by the law,” Wahab said.
“Until they fully comply with the provisions of the law, this will not be a one -off. We will come back; If nothing is done right now about the present state of the abattoir it is only a catastrophe waiting to happen.”
Our correspondent also observed butchers operating around the Abibatu Mogaji Agro-Allied and Animal Feed Market, where animals were being slaughtered near a canal.
On Monday, a middle-aged man was arrested and detained by the state government for illegally converting his residential property into a makeshift abattoir, thereby endangering public health and flouting environmental regulations.
The arrest followed a tip-off from a concerned resident about suspicious activities at No. 12 Alfred Williams Street in the Iju Station area of Lagos.
Upon investigation, officials from the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources discovered that the suspect had transformed his residence into a slaughter facility shortly after the Oko-Oba Abattoir was shut down.
The illegal operation was reportedly carried out in highly unsanitary conditions, raising concerns about waste disposal, meat hygiene, and the safety of surrounding residents.
The premises were immediately sealed, and the suspect taken into custody.
“The suspect is now in custody, and the premises have been sealed. This swift response demonstrates our zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of environmental violations, whether in designated facilities or residential areas,” Wahab said on X.
A butcher identified as Umaru confirmed that some of his colleagues have resorted to using houses around Agric Road after striking deals with landlords.
He also said some butchers slaughter animals at OPIC in Ogun State, and then bring the meat to the market near the closed abattoir.
“You see that boy carrying a sack?” he asked, pointing to a young man hauling a large sack. “He’s carrying fresh meat. They slaughter animals elsewhere and bring it here to sell.”
Another butcher, who identified himself as Abdullahi, lamented the economic hardship caused by the closure.
“Today makes it six days since the abattoir was shut down. It has been difficult for me to cope,” he said.
Abdullahi acknowledged the previously poor sanitary conditions at the facility but claimed that butchers have cleaned up and improved the environment in anticipation of its reopening.
“I won’t lie. There was too much filth before. Some people who weren’t even butchers used to sleep there and dirty the place. We’ve cleaned the place, and I expect the government to reopen it today or tomorrow,” he added.
As of Wednesday, it remained unclear whether the government considered the cleanup efforts sufficient for reopening the facility.
At the main entrance of the abattoir, access was still restricted. Our correspondent observed police officers and personnel from the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), also known as KAI, stationed at the gate.