The Lagos State Government has lifted the closure order on the Oko-Oba Abattoir in Agege following the facility’s compliance with key hygiene and environmental standards.
The abattoir had been sealed off on June 19 due to poor sanitation practices and other violations.
However, after an inspection revealed significant improvements, the state government approved its reopening.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday.
He noted that the abattoir operators had met “the minimum benchmark for the operations of abattoirs in the state,” which had been previously disregarded.
“The closure was necessary to address the flagrant breach of sanitation protocols. We are satisfied that the operators have now substantially complied,” Wahab said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
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As part of the conditions for reopening, the Ministry of the Environment will now carry out monthly inspections at the facility to ensure sustained compliance.
A statement from the ministry also cautioned the operators to uphold cleanliness and adhere strictly to waste management and food safety procedures.
“We urge all stakeholders to refrain from unhygienic practices and ensure proper handling of animal products,” the statement read.
Before the initial closure, Wahab had raised concerns over the appalling conditions at the facility. During an earlier visit, he described how animal waste was being discharged into public drainage systems, and some individuals were reportedly sleeping within the market premises alongside animals—practices he termed “unsafe and unsanitary.”
In the aftermath of the shutdown, the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps also demolished illegal structures built on drainage channels within the facility.
The Ministry of the Environment is working jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture to maintain improved hygiene and enforce stricter operational standards going forward.
The government emphasized its commitment to public health and environmental safety, warning that any future violations could result in more severe consequences.
