Butchers lament poor state of Badagry abattoir

Butchers in the Badagry area of Lagos State on Monday decried the lack of basic amenities within their abattoir.

Consequently, the butchers, under the aegis of the Alapata Association of Agbalata Market, have called for urgent rehabilitation of the abattoir by the Badagry Local Government Council and the state government.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the call was against the backdrop of the outbreak of Cholera in some parts of the state.

Chairman of the association, Mr Taofeek Mohammed, told NAN in Badagry that the maintenance of the over 40-year-old abattoir was being done by the butchers alone.

“We pay levies to use the abattoir but all the maintenance of the place is being borne by us. We are not seeing the benefits of the money they are collecting from us daily. Presently, the maintenance of the abattoir is getting beyond our capacity; the local government council and the state government should also assist us,” he said.

According to Mohammed, the abattoir lacks basic facilities, including toilets and bathrooms.

He said that several letters had been written to the local government chairman on the need for the basic amenities in the abattoir.

“Also, the office built in the 80s is too small to accommodate members,” he said.

The chairman urged the council boss to help in addressing all the challenges being faced by cow sellers in the area.

Secretary of the association, Mr Abiodun Adebayo, also urged the government to assist members with loan facilities.

Adebayo said that some members of the association had left their jobs for the commercial transportation business due to the current economic hardship.

“Many of our members have left the job for commercial motorcycle driving, while others have become bus conductors because of the economic challenges in the country. The palliatives are not getting to our members; the only way is for the government to give us loans, with favourable conditions for repayment”, he said.

Vice-chairman of the association, Mr Babatunde Yahaya, also appealed to the council chairman to assist in clearing the bushes in the abattoir, saying that members were spending lots of money to tidy up the place.

NAN