AWKA (SUNDIATA POST)- Charles Okafor, the Chairman, Obinwanne Butchers Association, Awka, has urged Gov. Charles Soludo to upgrade the Kwata Abattoir in Awka South Local Government Area of the state.
Okafor made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Akwa.
He said that the ‘Butchers Centre’ at Kwata, a private facility built since 1976, required the support of the government to function optimally.
“We urge the governor to support us by upgrading the standard of the abattoir. This will ensure the provision of modern butchering facilities.
“It will also promote healthy and clean environment. We have been operating through self-help to meet up with the challenges of running an abattoir,” he said.
Okafor commended Soludo for rehabilitating the road leading to the abattoir which was threatened by erosion.
“He did this within the first six months of his administration, we trust in his ability to listen to the yearning of the people,” he said.
The chairman said that the butchers in the abattoir had remained obedient to extant laws governing sanitation and certification of meat.
“We cooperate fully with inspection officials from the Ministry of Environment who visit the facility regularly.
“We accord same cooperation to veterinary doctors who certify the animals that are killed for sale here, we are law abiding business people.
“We promptly pay our statutory levies to the authorities. I mean slaughter and inspection levies, we don’t argue, we don’t owe too,” he said.
Okafor said that his administration had implemented a borehole facility to provide safe and clean water for meat sellers in the abattoir.
“This has helped us to stop the use of water from a shallow well here. I have also built an administrative office, slaughter slabs, animal cage, toilets among others,” he said.
Mr Ezekiel Nwafor, a butcher, said that the abattoir had taken a cleaner and more hygienic state since the Okafor-led leadership came on board.
“We urge the government to help us to make the place better, it will be to the advantage of the people generally,” he said.
Mrs Franca Okeke, a buyer, commended the sanitary habit and comportment of the butchers, saying,” I like the way they keep the place neat”
“I give thanks to the current leadership of the abattoir, they have shown hard work and commitment to service,” she said.(NAN)
