Lagos renews clamp-down on illegal abattoirs, veterinary premises

Lagos State Government on Monday resumed the dislodgement of illegal abattoirs, slaughterhouses, animal markets and other veterinary premises.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya, who disclosed this, explained that the exercise was in continuation of the state government’s sanitization and reform of the red meat value chain with the goal of producing wholesome meat for the consumption of its citizenry.

The commissioner noted that the exercise was a follow-up to the dislodgement exercise subsequent to the re-inauguration of the State’s Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance (MEC) Team last year which was suspended as a result of the unrests that stemmed from the aftermath of the #endSARS protest.

According to her, a total of 15 operational outings were carried out by the MEC Team after its re-inauguration last year which resulted in the dislodgement of all illegal veterinary premises such as abattoirs, slaughterhouses, meat markets and animal clinics; and subsequent arrest of illegal operators as well as confiscation of stray animals and carcasses.

“We will all recall that in August 2020, we re-launched the new Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance (MEC) Team to commence a clampdown on all illegal slabs, animal markets, movement of unaccompanied animals as well as unregistered veterinary premises within the State.

“I can authoritatively say that the last outing was a huge success. A total of 15 operational outings were carried out where live animals and carcasses were confiscated. The live animals were returned to the owners after they were fined and issued stern warnings while carcasses that were certified fit for human consumption by our veterinary doctors were donated to Boys Correctional Homes and government-recognized orphanages.

“The exercise resulted in a lot of the erring butcher’s patronizing government-approved abattoirs and slaughterhouses while some are still recalcitrant. The operation had to be halted due to the unrest as a result of the End SARS protest which has given rise to the return of some of these illegal activities.

“It has been observed that animals slaughtered at these illegal slaughter slabs are not inspected by veterinary officials, as a result, the wholesomeness cannot be vouched for; hence the need for the MEC Team to go out again to continue the dislodgement exercise,” Olusanya averred.

The commissioner added that for this operation, there would be no option of a fine on confiscated live animals, adding that all confiscated animals would be auctioned at the Mobile Court of the Task Force Office with all offenders duly prosecuted.

She, therefore, urged all those who breed animals within their residences to restrain their pets and prevent them from roaming the streets as those animals not only constitute a nuisance to public health, they also destroy the aesthetics created by the state government to beautify the city, adding that any stray animal confiscated by the MEC Team would therefore be auctioned.

Olusanya, also urged all animal health practitioners, cold room operators and meat shop operators in the State to ensure that they are registered with the Veterinary Services Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and obtain appropriate license to operate within the state noting that quackery would no longer be tolerated.

“The Lagos State Government as a responsible government who is concerned about the health of its citizens will put in all efforts to ensure that only wholesome and healthy meat products are sold in the State to prevent the outbreak of diseases,” Olusanya stated.