|
Listen to article
|
Enugu State authorities have pledged to crack down on butchers peddling unsafe meat at Afor Awkunanaw Gariki Market, a major hub in Enugu South Council Area.
The government said it is determined to protect citizens from the health risks associated with consuming uninspected and contaminated animal products.
On Friday, Philip Ozoagu, the chief veterinarian at Enugu State’s Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation Ministry, spearheaded a crackdown on unsafe meat sales at Afor Awkunanaw Gariki Market, vowing to take action against errant butchers.
Philip Ozoagu briefed market chairman Kojak Egbonnaji and his team on a grave concern: their investigation had revealed that some vendors were engaging in the illicit sale of uninspected and deceased animals, masquerading them as safe meat for human consumption.
Ozoagu emphasized the crucial need for collaboration with market leaders to ensure the implementation of rigorous inspection protocols, thereby preventing the transmission of zoonotic diseases from animals to humans.
Butchers had brazenly disregarded government directives, Ozoagu noted, opting to prioritize profits over people’s well-being by selling meat from deceased animals to the public.
Read also: Abia Butchers Protest Otti’s Plan To Shutdown Abattoir
“Our findings showed that they pay some fees to you, and we are directing you to stop collecting these fees as Governor Peter Mbah’s administration is more concerned about the health of Enugu residents.
“We are giving you a final chance to stop them from coming to sell in this market.
“We built an abattoir for them to stay, and the purpose of the place is to inspect their meat, and those willing to sell wholesome meat can go to the place,” he said.
Mr Ozoagu warned that in any attempt to disobey the simple rules, perpetrators would be arrested.
Joy Onah, officer-in-charge of the veterinary department, Enugu South Council Area, described meats sold on roadsides as “condemned and unhygienic meats”.
She warned butchers engaging in the act to desist from it, saying their meats posed dangers to people’s health.
Romanus Ezeh, head of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria’s Enugu chapter, called for the compilation of a comprehensive database of butchers in the state to distinguish genuine professionals from unqualified meat sellers.
As a government agent responsible for collecting butchers’ licenses, Romanus Ezeh revealed that intelligence suggests that roadside meat vendors are selling cattle that perished during transportation from northern regions.
“We have invited them for a meeting, but they have refused to show up,” he said.
The market chairman acknowledged the issue, describing it as a longstanding problem that has plagued the market since the previous administration, posing a significant challenge to their efforts to ensure a safe and healthy environment for consumers.
Denying being paid to look away from sellers of unhealthy meat in the market, he said, “What we collect from them is e-ticket fees, but now I will stop.”
“However, the veterinary department needs to do its job by chasing them away from the market,” he added.
The market chairman begged the veterinary department for a temporary reprieve of one month, promising to utilize the time to convene an urgent meeting with his leadership team and take decisive action against the recalcitrant butchers.
