News in Brief:
– Lagos state authorities have launched a crackdown on roadside livestock sales due to hygiene and safety concerns.
– The confiscated animals will be inspected and owners will be fined before they can reclaim them.
A Lagos state task force, in collaboration with the state’s Ministry of Agriculture, initiated a crackdown on the illegal sale of livestock along roadsides within the city.
The enforcement operation, led by the agency’s chairman, CSP Shola Jejeloye, began at the Agege Ram Market, where officers removed dozens of livestock and transported them to the Lagos State Abattoir for health inspections and proper handling.
Also, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, spokesperson for the task force, highlighted the agency’s concerns regarding the unhygienic and dangerous nature of roadside livestock sales. He noted the risks posed not only to sellers and buyers but also to commuters and motorists.
Echoing the sentiments, the chairman of the agency, Jejeloye, remarked that the lack of proper barriers poses the danger of animals escaping onto the road and causing accidents.
Environmental and agricultural violations of roadside livestock sales
Dr. Kofoworola Oloritun, Head of Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance for the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, emphasised that roadside livestock sales violate both environmental and agricultural regulations. She stressed the requirement for mandatory inspections to ensure animal health and prevent the spread of diseases.
She stated that despite repeated warnings, these operators have continued their illegal activities and the now-confiscated animals will undergo thorough health checks at the abattoir.
Furthermore, she disclosed that the government will hold a meeting with the owners to educate them on proper livestock sale procedures as outlined by the law. Subsequently, the operators will face fines before regaining possession of their animals.
Meantime, this move follows recent announcement by Lagos state’s Ministry of Agriculture regarding plans to establish designated meat shops throughout the city. It aims to eliminate the unhygienic transportation of beef observed in some areas of the state.
