Pollution: Karu residents seek relocation of abattoir

Residents of Karu have appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, to relocate the Karu Abattoir from the centre of the community. Mr Sumner Sabo, an official of the Karu Gbagyi Development Associaition made the call on Sunday in Abuja at an event organised by the association to celebrate […]

Residents of Karu have appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, to relocate the Karu Abattoir from the centre of the community.

Mr Sumner Sabo, an official of the Karu Gbagyi Development Associaition made the call on Sunday in Abuja at an event organised by the association to celebrate the end of year, with the theme: “Karu and Nation Building: Promoting Excellence in Unity”.

He said the appeal followed the pollution and other environmental issues being suffered by residents of the community because of the location of the abattoir.

Sabo urged the minister to relocate the abattoir to an isolated area where the effects would no longer be a challenge to residents.

“The abattoir here is in the middle of the community. We cannot have an abattoir in the middle of the town, where the blood of slaughtered cows will flow through the stream, affecting several communities.

“Apart from the pollution, health and other environmental related issues associated with the siting of the abattoir in the community, the abattoir has turned to a drug selling centre.

“With the drugs being sold in the community because of the location of the abattoir, many of our youths are being distracted, with some taking to criminality and some getting addicted.

“In the interest of our health, environment and youths of our community, we are appealing to the Minister of the FCT to help us move the abattoir away from the Karu community,” he said.

He further said the current location of the abattoir in Karu community could be turned to a secondary school, or a sports centre for youths.

Sabo also called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to revisit and expedite action towards completing the Karu General Hospital, saying the hospital project had suffered several setbacks because of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for its execution since it began in 2006.

Sabo urged the FCTA to take over the project for speedy completion to ease the challenges being faced by residents.

In his remark, Sen Philip Aduda commended the association for organising the event and called for unity among indigenes to move Karu community forward.

He said the call was to ensure that the community achieved meaningful development and continued to love one another. (NAN)