Nasarawa Govt threatens to shut down Akwanga abattoir over poor sanitation

The Nasarawa State Government has issued a stern warning to the management of the Akwanga abattoir, threatening to shut it down unless the facility's poor sanitation conditions are improved within one month. 

Margret Elayo, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources gave the warning when briefing journalists after the September sanitation exercise at Akwanga LGA. 

The Commissioner represented by Hussaini Babayayi, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said the abattoir's unhygienic practices pose a significant threat to the health and well-being of residents.

She said that the team from the ministry had inspected the facility during the monthly sanitation exercise and discovered the poor state of the abattoir

She emphasised the need for strict adherence to sanitation laws. She said the ministry would closely monitor the abattoir's activities from now to the end of October to ensure cleanliness and compliance with sanitation guidelines.

“Most of our brothers and sisters staying here in Akwanga are getting their meat from this abattoir, but the place is not hygienic. It affects our people’s health.

"Government would do something immediately to ensure the safety of our citizens in Akwanga because the place is not proper for slaughtering animals and if nothing changes between now and next month, I assure you that the abattoir will be shut down,” he added.

On the September sanitation exercise, the commissioner expressed dissatisfaction with the level of compliance by the residents of Akwanga and appealed for more cooperation to keep the state clean. 

She said that a lot of commercial motorcycles and vehicles were going about their normal activities during the sanitation exercise and threatened to be hard on them subsequently.

Responding, the Deputy Chairman of Akwanga LGA,  Basau Ibrahim-Shaibu, admitted that the level of compliance was poor in the town because the government has shifted attention to rural communities.

On the state of the abattoir, the Deputy Chairman said that the state government had already begun constructing a modern abattoir on the outskirts of Akwanga.

He, however, promised that the government would take immediate action to ensure that the abattoir is kept clean and strict adherence to sanitation laws to guard against the spread of diseases. (NAN)