Lagos State Government Bans Use Of Motorbikes , Air Cooling Vans For Meat Transportation

Lagos State Government has banned the use
of motorbikes popularly known as ‘Okada’
and ‘Air Cool Vans’ for transportation of meat
and meat products in all abattoirs and
slaughter slabs across the State in order to
ensure a well-structured meat transporting
system which befits the status of a mega
city.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr.
Oluwatoyin Suarau who made this known
recently at the stakeholders meeting with
representatives of the Lagos State Butchers
Association, Eko Refrigerated Meat Van
Association, Apapa Park transporter and the
Sheep and Goat Butchers Association noted
that only the authorized ‘Refrigerated Meat
Vans’ are allowed in the business of
transporting meat within the State.
“Anyone who transports meat products using
means other than the authorized refrigerated
meat vans will have their meat seized. The
‘air cool van’ which was earlier introduced in
2008 has been phased out and must not
operate within the State again”, he said.
While reiterating that the State government
will not relent in its efforts to stop the
unwholesome transportation of meat, Suarau
warned against carrying of meat products in
polythene bags and unauthorized vehicles.
He added that the State government has zero
tolerance for ‘Okada’ operations within the
premises of abattoirs and slaughter slabs and
thus directed that all owners of ‘Okada’
should vacate the premises of the abattoirs
and slaughter slabs immediately.
Suarau stated further that the Monitoring,
Enforcement and Compliance Unit on
dislodgement of illegal abattoirs, seizure of
stray animals, monitoring of illegal meat
transportation and regulation of veterinary
premises will commence enforcement of the
ban on operations of motorcycles and air cool
vans within the premises of the abattoirs and
slaughter slabs in the State.
While maintaining that the government will
soon provide more refrigerated meat vans to
replace old and rickety ones for effective
transportation of meat in the State, Suarau
informed that a standard of what a mega city
abattoir should look like has been set and
urged the abattoir operators to give the
government necessary support to achieve the
successful implementation of policies through
a high level of policy compliance.
“The State has a model which is aimed at
ensuring healthy and hygienic transportation
of meat within the State. I, therefore, urge all
to give maximum support to the government
in the implementation of these policies”, he
said.
The Commissioner explained that the since
the inception of the present administration,
policies and programmes aimed at changing
the face of abattoirs and slaughter slabs have
been embarked, adding that apart from
upgrade of facilities and infrastructure of
abattoirs and slaughter slabs, the State
government has also trained butchers and live
cattle dealers drawn from various abattoirs
and slaughter slabs in the State on current
trends in abattoir management.
In his words, “The State government through
the Ministry of Agriculture has also continued
with the removal of waste, removal of
shanties and dislodgement of illegal
occupants at various abattoirs and slaughter
slabs as part of efforts aimed at ensuring and
maintaining a hygienic and conducive
environment and wholesomeness in the red
meat value chain business in Lagos”.
He averred that the commitment of the
present administration towards the attainment
of food security depends largely on the
cooperation of every resident of the State,
stressing that food security and hygienic
environment occupies the front burner of the
present administration as a way to facilitate
job and wealth creation as well.