Hygiene: FCTA opens door for establishment of private abattoirs

By Stanley Onyekwere

An order to ensure that residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have access to wholesome and safe meat, the FCT Administration says it has opened door for private to partake in establishing Abattoirs across the territory, so as to meet the growing needs for the commodity.

To this end, the administration has strengthened the capacity of the animal health unit of the FCT Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) to ensure that the existing abattoirs across the FCT operate effectively under strong hygienic conditions.

The Secretary of the ARDS, Mrs. Olvadi Bema Madayi, who spoke through the Chief Veterinary Officer of the secretariat, Dr. Regina Adulugba, restated the government’s towards enhancement of sanitary conditions and provision of basic amenities in abattoirs in the Territory.

She says “to bridge this gap, the FCTA under the directive minister of state, FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, has opened the door for private participation in establishing abattoirs across the Territory.

“This is yielding fruit as full scale private abattoir is already operating in Karu and another one under construction at Dei-Dei, a suburb of the FCT.”

She added that the Secretariat is already working in partnership with a meat haulage company, Lead Automobile Company Limited that have supplied meat vans, which are fully refrigerated and with steel lining, to convey meat directly from our abattoirs to the various markets, hotels and selling points.

Noting that the meat are hygienically prepared and conveyed, hence are safe for human consumption, the Secretary maintained that the Secretariat have qualified veterinary doctors working in all abattoirs and other slaughter slabs, who inspects and certifies every animal before it is slaughtered, prepared and transported to various selling points.