Lagos reopens Oko-Oba Abattoir after compliance with sanitation rules

By Adeola Ogunrinde –

The Lagos State Government has ordered the immediate reopening of the Oko-Oba Abattoir in Agege after the operators complied with sanitation and hygiene regulations.

The abattoir was shut down on June 19 by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources over environmental violations and poor operational practices.

Announcing the reopening in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the operators had now met the minimum required standards for operating abattoirs in the state.

According to him, the facility was initially closed due to flagrant disregard for environmental laws, which posed serious health and safety risks to the public.

Wahab stated that one of the conditions for reopening is mandatory monthly inspections by officials from the ministry to ensure continued compliance with hygiene and waste management standards.

“We urge the operators to maintain proper sanitation, avoid waste mismanagement, and ensure hygienic handling of animal products as they carry out their businesses,” the ministry said in an official statement.

Before the closure, Wahab had visited the facility and expressed disappointment over its poor sanitary conditions, stating, “Animals are slaughtered here, and the waste is discharged directly into public drainage. This is completely unacceptable.”