THE Lagos State Government is set to commence the dislodgement of illegal slabs, as well as the monitoring of all veterinary premises across the State, from Tuesday, September 1, 2020, to further sanitise the red meat value chain and improve the quality and wholesomeness of the meat consumed by the people.
The State Acting Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya, who made this known over the weekend at the re-inauguration of the Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance (MEC) Team of the Ministry, noted that the exercise would also involve the monitoring of meat transportation and enforce stray animal control.
She added that the dislodgement is necessary, especially as the State remains particular about producing wholesome and healthy meat for its residents while simultaneously ensuring that the streets are free of stray animals.
Olusanya recalled that even though the dislodgement of illegal slaughterhouses had been on-going in the past three years, the need to strictly enforce meat transportation using only the designated vehicles as well as stray animals control, which had lately become more rampant, cannot be overemphasised.
The Acting Commissioner noted that the team would monitor and effect zero-tolerance for illegal slaughter slabs and ensure proper regulation of veterinary activities statewide in conjunction with Lagos State Private Veterinary Premises Registration Authority.
She pointed out that the menace of stray animals on major roads and streets were also on the high side, adding that such animals destroy various ornamental plants, shrubs and trees of aesthetic value within the metropolis, thereby increasing the risk of accidents and environmental degradation as well as the prevalence of the outbreak of zoonotic diseases that pose major threats to human health.
Olusanya also disclosed that all stakeholders including members of the Lagos State Butchers Association, Abattoir Concessionaire Forum, Lagos State Sheep and Goat Association, Lagos State Ram and Goat Sellers Association, Eko Refrigerated Meat Van, Eko Live Animal Transport and the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, among others, had been well informed and carried along to allow for the smooth operation of the MEC unit.
The Chairman, Lagos State Butchers Association, Mr Bamidele Kazeem, pledged the association’s full support for the state government’s latest initiative to sanitise the red meat value chain.
Alabi assured that registered abattoirs and meat markets are already in compliance with all the laws of the state government concerning the reform of the red meat value chain, maintaining that there is no fear on their part of being affected by the activities of the Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance Team.
In the same vein, the Secretary of the Lagos State Abattoir Concessionaires Forum, Mr Hamzat Kareem, observed that the re-inauguration of the Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance Team would curb the menace of illegal abattoirs as they pose a huge threat to legal abattoir operations.
