The Lagos State Government has ordered the immediate reopening of the Oko-Oba Abattoir located in the Agege area, following the operators’ substantial compliance with environmental, health, and sanitation standards. This directive comes weeks after the facility was shut down over grave hygiene violations and improper waste disposal practices.
IREPORT247NEWS reports that the state government had mandated the closure of the abattoir after receiving a formal petition from the Ministry of Agriculture. The petition triggered an extensive inspection of the facility, revealing shocking levels of environmental abuse and disregard for public health protocols.
During the inspection, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, expressed outrage at the deplorable conditions. He described the scene as “heart-wrenching,” citing multiple violations including the slaughtering of animals in unsanitary conditions and the reckless discharge of animal waste into public drainage channels.
“What we saw today at Oko-Oba is unacceptable,” Wahab had stated during a prior visit. “The operators have chosen to ignore the law and endanger public health with their reckless activities. The state government will take decisive steps to enforce compliance with all relevant environmental and health regulations.”
He further highlighted that some individuals were even found sleeping within the market premises, in close proximity to live animals, a situation he described as highly unsafe and unhygienic.
As part of the enforcement action, the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps dismantled several illegal structures erected along drainage setbacks within the abattoir premises, further aiming to restore proper sanitary conditions. Read here.
In an update shared via his official handle on X (formerly Twitter), Wahab confirmed that the operators had “substantially complied with the minimum benchmark for the operations of abattoirs in the state, which was flagrantly flouted initially, necessitating the closure.”
In light of this development, the state government has laid out new oversight measures. Monthly inspections will now be conducted by officials from the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources to ensure continued compliance and prevent a relapse into previous unsanitary practices.
A separate statement from the ministry also urged the operators to maintain strict hygiene standards, properly manage waste, and avoid the unhygienic handling of animal products as they resume operations.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to working collaboratively with the Ministry of Agriculture to sustain improvements in hygiene, safety, and operational standards at the Oko-Oba Abattoir and other similar facilities across the state.