The Lagos State Government has begun tearing down illegal buildings at the Oko-Oba Abattoir in Agege following its indefinite closure due to serious sanitation problems.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the demolition on Monday via his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
He said that the state’s Environmental Sanitation Corps removed buildings erected along drainage areas within the abattoir.
According to Wahab, this clean-up aims to restore proper hygiene, ensure free-flowing drainage, and stop the spread of diseases.
Just days earlier, the government had shut down the abattoir over health violations, including poor meat handling, uncontrolled disposal of animal waste, and obstruction of public drainage systems.
During a recent interview, Wahab confirmed that the facility would remain closed until it meets basic health and environmental standards.
He described the situation at the abattoir as heartbreaking, citing how cows are now being slaughtered at an abandoned gas station and even on the streets.
Despite the government’s years of engagement and even funding visits abroad to show operators how modern abattoirs are run, most have refused to improve.
Wahab also revealed that only 10% of the facility’s modern equipment is being used, while basic hygiene rules are routinely ignored.
He described how animals are kept outside while people sleep inside the pens, adding that the foul smell has driven nearby residents away and damaged public infrastructure.
He warned that the government would not be pressured by blackmail or religious sentiments to reverse its decision, stating that the health and safety of the public remain the priority.
