Butchers raise the alarm over increased illegal abattoirs in Delta
The National Butchers Union of Nigeria (NBUN), Delta State Chapter, yesterday raised concern over alleged illegal and proliferation of abattoirs in the state.
Leadership of the union also raised concern over the activities of the alleged illegal abattoirs could spell doom of serious health and environmental problems including loss of revenue to the government, if not checked.
The state chairman of the union, Comrade Peter Onuoha, told journalists at a news briefing in Asaba that stakeholders’ meeting held last Tuesday, the union resolved to work out strategies with a view to curbing illicit activities at various abattoirs across the state including sale of unwholesome animals/meat in the state.
While urging the state government to sanitize operatives of abattoirs, Comrade Onuoha said the union had observed some anomalies in the operation of abattoirs in the state, adding that especially as pregnant animals are killed, and slaughtered animals are freely transported to be sold in the state without ante mortem and post mortem checks by relevant authorities.
Expectedly, sales of alleged donkey meat had flooded Asaba markets, especially at the popular Ogbeogonogo Market but the Ogbeogonogo Market Association boss, Comrade Fancis Obodo in a swift reaction, dismissed the allegation as untrue, adding: “We have heard the rumours before now that people especially butchers sell donkey meat, it is not true because I have found out in the market”.
Speaking further, Comrade Onuoha suggested that for the situation to be brought under control, there was need for collaborative efforts between the Veterinary Departments in the State Ministry of Agriculture and National Resources, the union, officials of the unions department of environmental health in the 25 local government councils and other relevant stakeholders in the state.
Comrade Onuoha who is also the state chairman, National Association of Nigeria Traders (NANTS), further recommended that the government at all levels should draw up a programme to sanitize the operations of abattoirs in the state while inspectors from relevant establishments should monitor activities of abattoirs and meat sellers daily to ensure compliance and general sanitization of the places.
In another development, Civil Society Coalition On Sustainable Development Goals (CSCSDG) South-South, has harped on the need for credibility and strict monitor on order to actualize the sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
It will be recalled that while the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) succeeded in some countries, it failed in others and this prompted the United Nations to coin out the sustainable Development Goals.
Speaking at the maiden strategic meeting of the organization in Asaba yesterday, the co-ordinator, Mr. Odugda Okezi lamented the failure of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the United Nations in the South South and the country at large and blamed negligence, lack of qualitative monitoring and high handedness as factors that contributed to the failure.
Narrowing his scope to Delta State and the South South region he stressed that the peculiar terrain of the state plates emphasis on the need for all implement of the sustainable Development Goals.
