We Won’t Reopen Oko-Oba Abattoir Without Compliance – Lagos Govt
The Lagos State Government has declared that the Oko-Oba Abattoir and Lairage Complex in Agege will remain closed until operators comply with environmental regulations and meet basic hygiene standards.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made this known during a television interview on Sunday.
He stated that the government would not compromise public health or environmental safety for business interests.
“The abattoir will remain closed until the operators are ready to engage with the government and adhere to minimum operating standards,” Wahab said.
The facility was shut last Thursday following reports of poor sanitation, improper waste disposal, and unhygienic meat handling.
Wahab noted that the violations had already affected areas beyond the abattoir and prompted persistent complaints from nearby residents.
He added that previous efforts by the government, including sending stakeholders abroad for training in modern slaughtering practices, had yielded little cooperation.
The latest closure, he revealed, followed a formal complaint from the Commissioner for Agriculture over worsening environmental conditions.
“Instead of using the animal pens, they converted them into living spaces,” Wahab said, adding that enforcement officers were deployed after some operators moved slaughter operations to an abandoned filling station and roadside locations.
He condemned the concessionaire, Harmony, and the operators’ leader, Galadima, for allowing untreated animal waste to flow into public drains.
According to him, only 10 per cent of the mechanised and semi-mechanised infrastructure at the facility is being utilised, with operators preferring unhygienic manual methods.
Wahab also addressed broader environmental concerns in Lagos, highlighting issues such as flooding and the consequences of building on wetlands in areas like Iketu, Agbowa, and Magodo.
He disclosed that over 1,141 illegal structures had been removed to improve drainage and restore access to waterways.
He urged residents to take responsibility for their environment, noting that over 666,000 primary drainage channels and 397 secondary collectors had been cleared in the past two years.
“Let us take ownership of our environment. Nature will always challenge us, but we must do our part while the government continues to prioritise environmental safety,” he said.
Wahab also encouraged residents to support climate action by planting trees and preserving green spaces, revealing that LASPARK had planted more than 20,000 trees this year.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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