Residents of Gwagwalada Area Council in the FCT have raised concerns over the unhygienic and deteriorating condition of the Anagada Livestock Market, particularly its slaughterhouse, calling for urgent rehabilitation.
Residents said animals were being slaughtered on dirty floors surrounded by waste, while meat was reportedly washed with water from unhygienic sources. Butchers were also observed using tyres to process animal skins, generating smoke and further polluting the environment.
Trader Deborah Adiche said the poor handling and transportation of meat could expose consumers to health risks. She called for stricter enforcement of hygiene standards, regular sensitisation of butchers, dedicated meat-transport vehicles and the provision of a modern slaughterhouse with reliable water supply.
Residents Nasiru Ibrahim and Bridget Adeniji also called for improved sanitation, proper waste disposal, modern equipment and rehabilitation of the facility. Public health expert Dr Emmanuel Ademola warned that poor sanitation at slaughterhouses could increase the risk of contamination and disease transmission, urging regular veterinary inspections and compliance with health regulations.
A market official said management and the Area Council regularly sensitised butchers and that veterinary officers inspected livestock. However, the official acknowledged that compliance remained a challenge. He said the facility had four boreholes but appealed for support to provide a more effective roasting system after an existing gas-powered system proved inadequate for the volume of work.
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