The Lagos State Government has announced the immediate reopening of the Oko-Oba Abattoir in Agege, following the facility’s compliance with critical sanitation and hygiene regulations.
The abattoir was initially shut down on June 19 due to a series of environmental violations and improper operational practices, including unhygienic waste disposal and unsafe cohabitation of humans and animals.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed the reopening in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday. He stated that the operators had “substantially complied with the minimum benchmark for the operations of abattoirs in the state, which was flagrantly flouted initially, necessitating the closure.”
Officials from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources will now conduct monthly inspections to ensure continuous compliance with health and safety standards.
In a statement released on Friday, the ministry urged operators to maintain proper waste management practices and uphold sanitary conditions in their daily operations. “We therefore urge the operators to avoid unsanitary activities, waste mismanagement, and unhygienic handling of animal products as they conduct their businesses,” the statement read.
Prior to the facility’s closure, Commissioner Wahab had visited the premises and raised serious concerns about its deplorable condition. In a video shared during his visit, he condemned the discharge of animal waste into public drainage systems and the presence of illegal residential structures within the facility.
Following the visit, the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps dismantled unauthorized structures erected along drainage setbacks within the abattoir premises.
The state government’s action underscores its commitment to public health, environmental safety, and sustainable urban management.
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