FCTA Warns Butchers Over Unsafe Practices
By: Zakari Aliyu
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has warned butchers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to desist from unwholesome practices while handling meat meant for public consumption.
The Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Lawan Kolo Geidam, gave this warning during an unscheduled visit to abattoirs in the FCT.
Geidam reiterated the resolve of the FCT Administration to take decisive actions against butchers whose practices not only run below acceptable standards but jeopardize public health.
He expressed the waning tolerance of the Administration with the butchers non-compliance with operational standards.
His words:“The patience of the Administration is running low with some of your members, who seem to have deliberately refused to comply with the established procedures. We will therefore, no longer fold our arms while these recalcitrant individuals operate our abattoirs in the FCT anyhow.”
Stressing the importance of adherence to proper procedures to avert exposure to diseases, Geidam lamented that despite the efforts of Veterinary officials, some of the butchers have resorted to cutting corners to use tires and other substandard methods for handling meat, thus, endangering the lives of meat consumers.
In addition, the Secretary also cautioned Veterinary Doctors and other health officials stationed in the abattoirs to take their jobs seriously by ensuring thorough meat inspection before and after the slaughter to guarantee the safety and quality of meat products.
“We will not hesitate to sanction any erring official who either by omission or commission fails to perform their duties diligently,” Geidam added.
Appealing for the patience of residents, the Secretary re-assured that the Administration is actively working to improve the conditions of FCT abattoirs; commending the leadership of the FCT Administration under, Barrister Nyesom Wike and Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, for their commitment to addressing infrastructural gaps in the FCT, which he assured will include abbatours in the FCT.
To demonstrate the non-tolerance stance of the Secretariat, at the Deidei abattoir, which is privately managed under a Public Private Sector arrangement with the Secretariat, the Secretary directed the immediate dismantling of a pipe that was illegally connected to a stream to the abattoir.
“The situation that we have found here is totally unacceptable, which is why immediately I got information. I decided to come here myself and I have given marching orders from the pipe connected to the steam to be removed immediately,” he emphasized.
On the issue of tyres used by the butchers, we have been sensitizing them that the practice not only endangers the lives of the public but to themselves, the Secretary said.
“I assure you that the Secretariat is working towards establishing biogas plants in all the abattoirs. In the meantime, I have issued a directive to the Director Veterinary Services to increase surveillance to check the dangerous practice” Geidam restated.
The Secretary also visited the site of the Fresh Produce Market, where he urged the allottees to take possession of their plots in order to commence development.
Similarly, at the locations designated for an ultramodern abattoir and an International Livestock Market, both of which are part of a public-private sector partnership initiative of the FCT Administration, Geidam expressed his strong desire for the successful completion of the project; emphasizing its potential to bridge existing gaps in the sector.
