The Lagos State Government has ordered the immediate closure of the Oko-Oba Abattoir in Agege following serious environmental violations and unsanitary handling of animal products.
This action was announced on Thursday by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, after a comprehensive inspection tour of the facility.
Speaking to journalists during the visit, Wahab revealed that the Ministry of Agriculture had formally petitioned his ministry to intervene, citing multiple environmental and public health infractions.
Describing the situation as deeply disturbing, Wahab stated, “What was witnessed at the abattoir today is heart-wrenching; the operators have defied and chosen to take laws into their hands as they slaughter animals and discharge the Waste into public drainage system with impunity and this is totally unacceptable.”
The commissioner explained that the abattoir operators were found to be channeling untreated animal waste directly into public drains, including those leading to the “Harmony” section of the facility, and also into another company known as Forth-Walt Farm on Wasiu Olaife Street.
Wahab warned that the state government would not tolerate such disregard for cleanliness and environmental standards, especially in food-processing locations and surrounding communities.
He reminded stakeholders that Lagos State environmental laws require that waste water and blood from meat processing be treated through proper facilities rather than dumped into public drainage systems.
“The State Government will take drastic and firm decisions to correct this attitude and make sure these operators abide by the law,” he said.
“Until they fully comply with the provisions of the law, this will not be a one-off. We will come back; If nothing is done right now about the present state of the abattoir it is only a catastrophe waiting to happen,” Wahab emphasized.
He further cautioned abattoir operators across the state to adhere strictly to established environmental standards.
“Operators can not choose to defy and or choose their own laws by blackmailing people as if that is the right way of life,” he said.
To ensure enforcement, Wahab disclosed that the shutdown at Oko-Oba would be carried out through a multi-agency collaboration involving the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture, as well as LASEPA, LASWMO, and LAWMA.
“It is quite unfortunate that people do not like seeing the carrot until the big stick is wielded,” he noted, adding that the government will stand firm in its enforcement efforts.
During the inspection, Wahab also visited Adetola Canal near Jonathan Coker Street in Iju, Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area, where iron rods used for canal reinforcement had been vandalized.
He pointed out that the lining of the canal had only recently been approved to enable efficient water flow into the Oko-Oba canal.
“We have compelled the CDAs of this community to take ownership and protect the infrastructure because Government cannot provide and also police the infrastructure. This situation tells you how bad the intentions of some persons are,” he lamented.
The commissioner urged residents to support the government’s efforts by consistently paying for waste services provided by PSP operators and shunning illegal disposal agents such as cart pushers.
He added that the government has intensified enforcement and prosecution of offenders involved in indiscriminate waste disposal and will continue to do so in accordance with the law.
Locations visited during the inspection tour included the Oko-Oba Abattoir in Agege and the Adetola Canal in Iju, under Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government.
