Butchers decry unhygienic environment

Kanem Trust discovered that the surrounding nets which prevented unhygienic substances, like flies and dust from gaining entrance into the meat section, were tattered and destroyed. Most of the slabs which cover the drainages that aid the flow of sewage have either given way or been damaged. The meat sellers and some customers said that, […]

Kanem Trust discovered that the surrounding nets which prevented unhygienic substances, like flies and dust from gaining entrance into the meat section, were tattered and destroyed. Most of the slabs which cover the drainages that aid the flow of sewage have either given way or been damaged. The meat sellers and some customers said that, often people were injured by the broken slabs. The entire ceiling was also taken over by cobwebs.

Alhaji Bello Umar, the chairman of the market chapter of the National Union of Butchers said, “We have officially lodged our complaint to the management about the unhygienic environment in which we have been operating for some time now. We did this because we know that keeping the environment clean is the responsibility of government.

Ideally, liquid waste should be channelled through the gutters in order to prevent blockage. But because it is not cleared regularly, it becomes blocked and stinks. This could lead to the spread of diseases. When we reported the matter to the management, they said that a contract had already been awarded by the state government for the rehabilitation.”

This according to a cross-section of the meat sellers and buyers, made the section unhygienic. The section patronized by all categories of persons in Maiduguri.

Saed Abba, a young meat seller, said, “This is why we are insisting that the meat section be kept clean because any contamination in the meat could result in an epidemic that could result in casualties.”

Effort to reach the management of the market was unsuccessful as at press time because the General Manager of the Monday Market, who is the only authorized official to speak on the matter, was unreachable.