The federal government says it would construct about nine modern abattoir markets across the country that would meet global standards before the end of the administration.

The registrar, Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCN), Yakubu Baba, said this in an interview on Tuesday in Abuja.

“I believe before the end of this administration, we are going to have like six to seven or nine modern abattoir markets nationwide that will meet the global standard that even other African continents can learn and understudy the system,” he said.

Mr Baba said the environment, agriculture and health ministries worked together because the ministries are interwoven.

He recalled that sanitary inspectors used to inspect abattoir markets to ensure the areas were environmentally friendly before the inspectors were driven out.

“The health inspectors then worked with veterinary doctors at the abattoir markets.

He explained that veterinary doctors inspected the animals to be slaughtered to identify the ones with diseases.

Mr Baba said if 60 per cent of diseases are discovered in any animal during the inspection, such animals would be condemned, and the government would provide compensation.

The registrar disclosed that the federal government had decided to introduce the old sanitary inspection system, using the global way of operating in the markets.

He said that the abattoir markets had been provided with a modern system, a situation whereby there is access to adequate water and other necessary items needed to ensure the effective operation of the markers.

He said the whole process is being done hygienically and environmentally friendly.

“For me, as a nation, we are moving ahead because we have come up with the solution to the problem of the abattoir.

“When you see how our abattoirs are being operated before our administration’s intervention, you will not be enticed to eat meat.

“But today, our effort is showing that we are working, we have really brought back the public health inspectors of those days,” he said.

The registrar said that the sanitation issue falls under the council’s regulatory control, which has 17 components.

He said that two of the 17 components are the abattoir sanitation and premises inspection, adding that sanitation is on the concurrent list in the constitution.

He said the concurrent list in the constitution is meant to give power of sanitation to the states and local government levels under the public health laws. 

(NAN)