Korede Abdullah in Lagos
In a decisive move to protect public health, the Lagos State Government has ordered the indefinite closure of the Oko Oba Abattoir in Agege, citing persistent unhygienic practices and repeated violations of environmental regulations.
The state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the closure during an inspection visit on Wednesday.
“We have announced the indefinite closure of the Oko Oba Abattoir, Agege, over unhygienic practices and the violation of various environmental laws”, he said.
Wahab shared the directive on X (formerly Twitter) with the hashtag #ZeroToleranceLagos, emphasizing the government’s stand against environmental abuse.
The commissioner, accompanied by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), described the abattoir as a threat to public safety due to its failure to meet established sanitation standards.
He stressed that the shutdown is part of the government’s broader effort to enforce compliance in meat processing facilities and other sensitive sectors.
“No individual or business will be allowed to endanger the lives of others through negligence or reckless disregard for the law, let us try something right,” Wahab said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to public health.
Residents and traders in the Oko Oba community had long complained about the abattoir’s poor waste management, foul odours, and the discharge of untreated wastewater into surrounding drains and canals.
Wahab assured Lagosians that more measures are underway to ensure environmental safety across the state, vowing that the government will not relent in holding violators accountable.
