The Abia government says it will commence a biogas initiative to improve hygiene and environmental standards in abattoirs across the state.

Ogbonnia Okereke, the general manager of the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, said this on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting held in Umuahia.

Mr Okereke said the project would begin at the Lokpanta abattoir and focus on generating biogas from animal waste to process meat safely. He said this development would end the dangerous burning of meat with disused tyres, a common alternative to costly firewood in the South-East.

Mr Okereke said that meat processed with tyres poses serious health risks due to releasing toxic substances. He described the biogas approach as a cultural shift.

After comprehensive renovations, Mr Okereke said the Abia government had reopened the Lokpanta and Uzuakoli abattoirs to meet hygiene and safety standards.

He said these facilities were previously closed due to unsanitary conditions but were fully retrofitted and ready for public use.

Mr Okereke said the move reflected the government’s commitment to health, safety and environmental reform. He also expressed the state government’s commitment to transitioning from a linear to a circular economy by converting waste into energy and recyclable resources.

According to him, ASEPA signed a memorandum of understanding with a firm experienced in waste-to-energy technology to support this transition.

He said discussions on the waste-to-energy business had reached advanced stages, with implementation expected to begin shortly.

Mr Okereke urged residents to improve compliance with sanitation fee payments to sustain ASEPA’s services and innovations. He described the revised ASEPA rates as affordable and among the lowest in the South-East.

Mr Okereke noted that Aba had become cleaner than Umuahia despite its higher population and complexity. He attributed Aba’s success to its residents’ strong support and cooperation in maintaining environmental cleanliness.

Mr Okereke said residents in Aba often assisted ASEPA by identifying and apprehending sanitation defaulters, thereby showing civic engagement.

He also said that such community-driven enforcement was still lacking in Umuahia.

Mr Okereke assured that task forces would remain active in both cities, combining enforcement with public cooperation. He also called on all citizens to join efforts towards a cleaner, healthier Abia, noting that officials could not be everywhere.

He reiterated ASEPA’s dedication to public health, environmental innovation and effective waste management.

(NAN)