The Lagos State Government ordered the immediate closure of the Oko-Oba Abattoir in Agege on Thursday, June 19, due to unsanitary practices and severe waste mismanagement that posed public health risks.
The decision, announced by Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab, follows inspections revealing improper waste disposal, contaminated water sources, and unhygienic slaughtering conditions at the facility, one of Lagos’ largest meat-processing hubs.
Wahab, speaking to the press, cited violations of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, including untreated effluent discharge into nearby waterways, which threatened communities in Agege and Orile.
Inspectors found blood and animal waste clogging drainage systems, fostering mosquito breeding and risking cholera outbreaks. “This abattoir’s operations are unsustainable and endanger public health,” Wahab said, per Vanguard. The closure affects over 500 butchers, with the government directing them to relocate to approved facilities like Matori and Ikorodu.
The state has deployed a task force to enforce compliance and plans to rehabilitate the facility, with a reopening targeted for later. The move aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s push for cleaner urban centers, though analysts warn of potential meat price hikes if supply chains are disrupted.