The Nasarawa State government has issued a one-month ultimatum to the management of Akwanga abattoir to improve its sanitary conditions or risk the shutdown of the facility.

Margret Elayo, commissioner for the environment and natural resources,  gave the warning while briefing journalists, after the Sept. sanitation exercise in Akwanga Local Government Area (LGA)

The commissioner, represented by Hussaini Babayayi, permanent secretary of the ministry, said the unhygienic practices in the abattoir posed a significant threat to the health and well-being of residents.

She said that the team from the ministry had inspected the facility during the monthly sanitation exercise and discovered the poor state of the abattoir.

The commissioner emphasised the need for strict adherence to sanitation laws, noting that the ministry would closely monitor the abattoir’s activities from now to the end of October, to ensure cleanliness and compliance with sanitation guidelines.

“Most of our brothers and sisters staying in Akwanga get their meat from this abattoir, but the place is not hygienic. It affects our people’s health.

“The government will do something urgently to ensure the safety of our citizens in Akwanga. The abattoir is not proper for slaughtering animals and if nothing changes between now and next month, I assure you that the abattoir will be shut down,” she added.

On the Sept. sanitation exercise, the commissioner expressed dissatisfaction with the level of compliance by residents of Akwanga and appealed for more cooperation to keep the state clean.

She noted that a lot of commercial motorcycles and vehicles were not observing the restriction of movement during the period of the environmental sanitation exercise, saying that such actions would no longer be tolerated.

On his part, Basau Ibrahim-Shaibu, deputy chairman of Akwanga LGA, admitted the poor level of compliance with the exercise by residents in town, saying that the government had shifted attention to rural communities.

He promised that the LGA would take immediate action to ensure that the abattoir was kept clean and adhere to strict sanitation laws, to guard against the spread of diseases. 

(NAN)