Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned against unhygienic meat handling practices in abattoirs, just as it announced plans to clampdown on defaulters.
Speaking during an unscheduled inspection to Karu and Kubwa abattoirs to assess the level of compliance to established safety standards, the acting Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mr. Ibe Chuwukuemeka, declared the resolve to promote and enforce hygienic meat handling practices in abattoirs across the FCT.
Chuwukuemeka expressed serious concern over frequent complaints of unhealthy practices in the processing of meat, describing it as unacceptable. He maintained that the secretariat will no longer condone activities that constitute a hazard to the public, disclosing that it is working towards introducing new measures to enhance effective monitoring of activities in abattoirs.
“Going forward, we will be introducing new measures that will enable us to monitor every activity taking place in the abattoirs; from the point of meat inspection and supervision by our Veterinary officials to ensure compliance with hygienic processes by the butchers in the abattoirs.
“Also, we will introduce new technologies to strengthen the surveillance to address reports of the use of tyres to roast meat as well as drug peddling,” he explained.
The acting secretary appealed to the butchers to desist from the use of unclean bare floors in the butchering of meat, advising them to make use of thick leather sheets to prevent contamination.
He disclosed that on the issue of environmental sanitation and pollution, the secretariat is working in collaboration with the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) as well as engaging the services of reputable cleaning services companies for cleaning and evacuation of waste in the various abattoirs.
