Gombe L-PRES begins food hygiene, safety training for meat processors, sellers

To promote food safety and hygiene in the State,  Gombe L-PRES Project has organised a three-day training for butchers, meat sellers, and processors focusing on good hygiene practices in meat handling and processing.

Speaking at the opening session of the training on Saturday, held at Shehu Usman Abubakar Hall, Gombe State University, the Project Coordinator, Professor Usman Bello Abubakar highlighted the crucial role of butchers, meat sellers, and processors in ensuring food safety and hygiene.

He emphasised the need for modernisation and improvement in their occupational practices, as traditional methods may not be sufficient noting that, “By adopting proper hygiene standards, meat processors can contribute to public health and maximize their profits.”

Professor U.B. Abubakar announced that the 3-day training targets 300 participants from all eleven LGAs of Gombe State with the goal of ensuring a wide-ranging coverage and effective dissemination of knowledge and skills related to best hygiene practices for meat processing and selling.

The Project Coordinator explained that the L-PRES Project has rehabilitated slaughter labs in Kumo, Bajoga, and Gombe.

Additionally, the project is currently constructing approximately Nine livestock markets across the state to improve livestock marketing and productivity.

He announced that plans are on top gear for the establishment of modern abattoir and an international livestock market.

“We also intend to establish a tannery. These facilities will enable modern processing of skin, hides, meat, and other products for both local consumption and export”, he noted.

Professor Abubakar reaffirmed L-PRES’s commitment to supporting the revitalization of the entire livestock production value chain for improved efficiency and productivity.

He expressed gratitude to Governor Inuwa Yahaya for his foresight and enormous support for the L-PRES Project, which has contributed to its significant successes and achievements in a short period.

Declaring the training open, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Cooperatives, Dr. Barnabas Malle, re- emphasized Gombe State Government’s commitment to improving and modernizing the livestock production and businesses to enhance food safety and security.

Barnabas Malle highlighted the crucial role of butchers and meat sellers in nutrition, health, and the overall economic development of society.

He stressed the need to move away from traditional practices and prioritise hygiene and health to prevent zoonotic diseases transmitted through contaminated meat or animal products.

“Considering the great role you play in nutrition, health, and socio economic development that the Gombe State Government, through the L-PRES Project, is establishing a modern abattoir and international livestock market,” he explained.

The Commissioner expressed optimism that the training would yield positive results, impacting participants’ knowledge and practices, leading to improved hygiene, health, and safety.

He then urged participants to pay attention and learn from the training to enhance their businesses and contribute to the community’s well-being by preventing illness and diseases and reducing healthcare costs.

He encouraged those involved in meat processing and selling businesses to send their younger ones to study animal health and related disciplines to modernise their businesses.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Butchers Association, Gombe State Chapter, Sulaiman Umar, commended L-PRES for organizing the training for its members. He emphasized that the training would significantly improve their businesses and public hygiene.

He also commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his support for the meat sellers through projects like L-PRES and other related projects and programmes.

The Chairman assured L-PRES and the Gombe State Government of the association’s and its members’ support in achieving the objectives of the training.

Professor Kabir Lawan from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, who facilitated the training, emphasized the importance of adopting best practices in food hygiene to protect society from diseases and illnesses while sanitizing businesses and improving profits.

The opening session of the training was attended by leaders of butchers associations from the Gombe North Senatorial Zone covering: Gombe Funakaye, Dukku, Kwami and Nafada LGAs.

At the end of the training session, each participant is expected to receive a pair of rain boots, a raincoat, hand gloves, an apron, and a nose mask for use during meat processing and selling to improve hygiene.

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