FCTA plans ‘hygiene policy’ for abattoirs

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said it would “soon come up with a robust policy on meat processing in Abuja.”
“This is to ensure that the meat people of the federal capital territory consume is hygienically prepared,” he said.
Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, said this yesterday while inspecting a new private abattoir at Jikwoyi area of the territory.
She said the FCTA would do everything it could to support private bodies, come up with “robust policy on meat processing in Abuja and provide right regulation and policy for public safety.”
The minister said the administration had also signed an agreement with a private company to build livestock abattoir in Gwagwalada that would become operational “in a few months.”
She, however, said no existing abattoir would be close down for the new one to thrive “unless it fails to meet the hygiene standards.”
“Clearly, we cannot close down the abattoirs that are in existence; we want the market to dictate. When they (the people) see the hygiene here, then they will bring their cattle here for slaughter.”
She directed the Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mrs. Olvadi Madayi, to, as a matter of urgency, put up a hygienic standard for all abattoirs in the territory.
“We need facilities like this in every area council so that the meat the people are eating is clean.”
Chairman of the company, Halal Meat Abattoir, Alhaji Issa Tafida, said it was stretching its hand of partnership to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to improve the quality of beef for residents.