The Lagos State Government has ordered the immediate reopening of the Oko-Oba Abattoir in Agege, following the facility’s compliance with mandated sanitation and hygiene standards.
The abattoir was initially shut down on June 19 over serious environmental violations and poor operational practices.
In a statement shared via his official 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced that the operators had “significantly complied with the minimum standards required for the operation of abattoirs in the state, which were initially egregiously violated, leading to the closure.”
Wahab added that, moving forward, officials from the ministry will conduct monthly inspections to ensure continued compliance with environmental and health regulations.
In a related statement issued Friday, the ministry urged the abattoir operators to maintain proper hygiene, avoid unsanitary practices, and manage waste responsibly while handling animal products.
Prior to the closure, Wahab had expressed deep concern over the facility’s conditions during an inspection. In a video, he condemned the unsanitary slaughter of animals and the discharge of waste into public drains, calling the situation “simply unacceptable.”
He also highlighted the unsafe practice of people sleeping within the market premises alongside animals.
Following the shutdown, the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps took action by dismantling unauthorized structures erected along the drainage setbacks within the abattoir grounds.
The Ministry of Environment and Water Resources confirmed that it is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that improved hygiene and operational protocols are sustained at the facility.