Butchers decry lack of amenities in Badagry abattoirs

Butchers in Badagry, Lagos State, have decried lack of basic amenities within their abattoir.

The butchers, under the aegis of Alapata Association of Agbalata Market, called for urgent rehabilitation of the facility by the Badagry Local Council and the state government.

Chairman of the association, Mr Taofeek Mohammed, told News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Badagry that maintenance of the over 40-year-old abattoir was being done by the butchers alone.

“We pay levies to use the abattoir but all the maintenance of the place is being borne by us. We are not seeing the benefits of the money they are collecting from us daily.

“Currently, the maintenance of the abattoir is getting beyond our capacity; the local council and the state government should assist us.”

According to Mohammed, the abattoir lacks basic facilities, including toilets and bathrooms.

He said several letters had been written to the local council chairman on the need for basic amenities in the place.

“Also, the office built in the 80s is too small to accommodate members,” he lamented.

The chairman urged the council boss to help in addressing all the challenges faced by cow sellers in the area.

Secretary of the association, Mr Abiodun Adebayo, also urged the government to assist members with loan facilities.

Adebayo said some members had even left the job for commercial transportation business due to the current economic hardship.

He said: “Palliatives are not getting to our members; the only way is for the government to give us loans, with favourable conditions for repayment.”

Vice chairman of the association, Mr Babatunde Yahaya, also appealed to the council chairman to assist in clearing the bushes in the abattoir, saying members were spending lots of money to tidy up the place.