Port Harcourt’s biggest abattoir cuts unpleasant picture
The Trans-Amadi Abattoir in Port Harcourt popularly known as Trans-Amadi Slaughter Market which was established in the late 1980’s is the biggest abattoir in Rivers State. Located at the popular Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout, the abattoir might however not be a too pleasing sight to behold for a visitor. The filthy atmosphere and rancid belches have […]
The Trans-Amadi Abattoir in Port Harcourt popularly known as Trans-Amadi Slaughter Market which was established in the late 1980’s is the biggest abattoir in Rivers State.
Located at the popular Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout, the abattoir might however not be a too pleasing sight to behold for a visitor. The filthy atmosphere and rancid belches have rather become a big embarrassment to the management of Obio Akpor Local Government Area which controls and collects revenue from users.
The filth therein no doubt, constitutes grave health concerns to its users and the hundreds of traders and visitors to the market daily. The first thing that confronts a visitor to the market is the rancid odour that oozes out, enveloping the entire area. The abattoir is divided into many parts such as the market section for foodstuff, clothing and footwear. The other section is the main slaughter house where cattle, pigs and goats are slaughtered daily. About 90 cows are said to be slaughtered there daily. People from different parts of Port Harcourt go to the market daily to buy meat and other foodstuff. Meat sellers and vendors buy bulk meat which they take to different parts of Port Harcourt and environs for retail sale. Another section of the market deals with live cattle and goats, a section that is equally dirty and stinks.
The entrance to the abattoir is filthy and muddy. Butchers have tables arranged haphazardly on the muddy surface. The entire area is rowdy with many people clustering around. The most unpleasant period is the rainy season as the mud and stinking water make movement difficult. From the slaughter ground, blood flows into the waterways below and animal skin is roasted with flames from burning old tires which create thick, black smoke over the city. Port Harcourt and environs have been engrossed in environmental pollution with residents groaning under black soot which medical experts say is cancerous. The operators of the abattoir are yet to embrace modern methods of slaughtering animals. The animals are kept on the ground for hours after being slaughtered and evacuated. The veterinary section of the abattoir is also very dirty and unkempt, with vehicles parked at the entrance. Directly opposite the abattoir are hawkers who display their wares in the outer court.
A butcher on condition of anonymity blamed the management for the poor state, saying the only thing they did was collect revenue.
Another butcher said: “Look at how everywhere is, very dirty and stinking. Look at the environment we do our business and slaughter animals for human consumption. Government is not doing anything to help us. All they do is to collect revenue and harass us daily.’’
He however charged the state government to carry out an immediate maintenance of the slaughter house to save meat consumers.
The state branch of the National Butchers Union of Nigeria is presently engaged in a face-off with the state government over the issue of hawkers and street traders that occupied the road. A special taskforce on road decongestion set up by the government recently visited the abattoir and pulled down all the make-shift stalls. Goods were impounded and some of the traders were arrested. The taskforce headed by the Commissioner for Urban Development set shops and stores built on the median ablaze. The agency for beautification has since recovered the median and erected a fence which has cut off the abattoir and blocked its only entrance. This has made movement to and out of the slaughter house very difficult. The fence has brought leaders of the National Butchers Union into a collision course with the state government as thugs allegedly engaged by traders recently destroyed the fence.
The Financial Secretary of the state branch of National Butchers Association of Nigeria, Suleiman Danjuma, accused officials of the Ministry of Urban Development of destroying goods and setting shops ablaze.
He added: ‘’The only access road we have which we also used to bring in the cattle have been fenced. The Rivers State government said they want to plant flowers on the median and it looks that we are in a cage.
“The Commissioner for Urban Development came in with his taskforce and was destroying traders’ property. The fencing is not good for our safety because when there is a fire incident people will find it very difficult to escape. The commissioner was moving around with a gallon of petrol which he used to set shops belonging to some of the traders ablaze.’’
He said two persons were brutalized by the police officers attached to the taskforce.
“The commissioner said the governor directed him to do what he did. We have three sections such as cattle, goats and piggery in the abattoir where animals are slaughtered. We want security agencies to look into the activities of some people in the market because there are plans to set the market ablaze and blame us,’’ he stated.
He called on the state government to remove the fence to enable them gain access to the market.
The Press Secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development, Prisca Ekere, said the traders refused to vacate their stores and move their wares from unauthorized places several weeks after a notice was served them. He said the taskforce had to move in and remove the obstructions.
Governor Nyesom Wike visited the abattoir to access the damage done at the median and gave the management of the abattoir seven days to produce those who vandalized the fence or risk a shutdown of the abattoir.
He expressed displeasure with the manner traders displayed wares within the median and urged them to take advantage of the many markets across the state to find a suitable place to sell their wares.