The Lagos State Government has unveiled plans to establish a butchers’ academy in the State to train new and existing butchers on slaughtering in the red meat value chain in accordance with global best practices.
The State Agriculture Commissioner, Ms. Abisola Olusanya stated this today during the test run of a new semi-mechanized abattoir at Bariga area of the State built through Public-Private Partnership.
Olusanya said that the academy would attract youths into the sector through the adoption of technology in an effort to make them the next generation of butchers. She also mentioned that there are 12 semi and fully mechanized operational abattoirs in the State, and some of them were set up through public-private partnerships.
Urging butchers to embrace technology in order to make their work easier and more profitable, she explained that the State has two fully mechanized lines in Agege, Oko-Oba Abattoir, as well as other Public-Private Partnership collaborations on semi and fully mechanized slaughterhouses.
The Commissioner noted that the semi-mechanized abattoir at Bariga would create about 2000 direct and indirect jobs when fully operational, adding that the aim of the partnership was to show Lagosians the need for safe, sanitized, and hygienic slaughtering of meat.
Olusanya said that the State government is receptive to the idea of collaborating with the private sector participants to have facilities such as the Bariga abattoir, with a view to ensuring proper slaughtering of meat in a hygienic and wholesome manner.
