FG bans transportation, selling of fresh meat into Abuja markets

THE Federal Government has placed a complete ban on unauthorised transportation and selling of fresh meat into the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) markets from neighbouring states.

The government lamented that there were cases of illegal sales of donkey and horse meat to unsuspecting consumers in 2016, saying before the end of 2017, every meat consignment shall be accompanied by certificate of inspection to ascertain its wholesomeness.

Briefing newsmen at the Minister’s Conference Room in Abuja, on Monday, to mark the two years of the present administration, the acting Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat of the FCT, Dr Musa Aliyu, however, said where such demand to bring in fresh meat into the territory was deserving, the operator would seek official approval from the Agric Secretariat.

“You can only bring live food animals into the territory for slaughtering and inspection by government officials before sales at the market. The new direction is to reposition FCT abattoirs through strict population control, hygienic practices and developing a sustainable haulage system,” he added.

He stressed that the directive of the government to the secretariat to embark on the clean-up of abattoirs within the territory, evacuating the pile up of abattoir waste and remove the illegal structures has helped to reduce congestion and enhanced effective monitoring of all activities in the abattoirs.

Dr Aliyu said the clean-up exercise was still on-going adding that the abattoirs were in better hygienic conditions than before.