Margret Elayo, the Honourable Commissioner of Environment in Nasarawa State, last Saturday conducted an inspection tour of the Akwanga Abattoir. During her visit, she expressed deep concern over the appalling conditions of the facility and issued a stern warning of potential sanctions if there is no immediate improvement in sanitary standards.

Unfortunately, the state of the Akwanga Abattoir is a reflection of the conditions at Lafia and other abattoirs across Nasarawa State. These facilities stand as stark symbols of neglect, decay, and indifference. What should be clean, modern, and efficient centers for meat processing have instead become unsanitary relics, unfit for purpose and dangerously unworthy of public trust.

Saturday’s visit by the Commissioner confirmed what residents and health officials have known for years: Nasarawa State’s abattoirs are ticking public health time bombs. Despite the heroic efforts of workers who strive daily to maintain some level of cleanliness against overwhelming odds, the facilities continue to suffer from crumbling infrastructure, outdated design, and a glaring lack of modern amenities.

The state of our abattoirs is not merely an eyesore; it is a brewing public health crisis.

Meat processed under such deplorable conditions cannot and should not be trusted. The risks of contamination, disease transmission, and environmental pollution are very real and escalating. Each kilogram of meat leaving these facilities represents not just food on the table, but a potential vector for illness.

Investment in food safety is not optional, it is essential. It is a critical pillar of the local economy and public health system. Allowing these abattoirs to remain in filth and disrepair is a gross disservice to the people of Nasarawa state.

What Nasarawa State’s abattoirs need is not a fresh coat of paint or occasional inspections; they require a complete overhaul. Modern equipment, sanitary drainage, proper waste disposal, ventilation systems, and a reliable clean water supply are urgently needed. Facilities worthy of the 21st century, not the 19th century.

Revamping the abattoirs is not only about restoring dignity to the workers, who certainly deserve far better conditions, but also about protecting the health of consumers, whose lives depend on safe food. Moreover, it is about strengthening the economy. A clean, efficient abattoir supports farmers, boosts livestock markets, and serves as a foundation for food industry growth in Nasarawa State.

What we are witnessing is not just infrastructural decay; it is a dangerous failure to prioritize the basic needs of the people. The cost of inaction is steep: illness, lost productivity, and eroded public trust.

The Nasarawa State government must act swiftly and decisively. Our abattoirs should be shut down immediately for thorough rehabilitation. Anything less would be sheer negligence.

The people of Nasarawa State, who depend on these facilities, deserve better. Clean meat is not a luxury, it is a fundamental right.