The Lagos State Government has taken significant steps to revamp the red meat selling process in the metropolis, ensuring proper hygiene before the product reaches consumers.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, disclosed this during the launch of the Last Mile Meat Shops and Butchers Academy in Alausa.
In her address at the event held at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, Olusanya stated that the initiative aims to provide residents with confidence in the quality of their meat while making it presentable with standard facilities to attract and encourage youth participation in the industry.
“The essence of this initiative is for residents to embrace butchery and correct the erroneous impression that the profession is reserved for the unenlightened. The 20-foot containers designed for this pilot scheme can be easily transferred from one location to another,” she said.
Each meat shop will be managed by four youths, allocated a cow slaughtered at approved government abattoirs and delivered under hygienic conditions. Olusanya called for private sector collaboration to expand the scheme, starting with 20-foot containers and aiming to increase to 40-foot containers.
Reflecting on the past, Olusanya explained that this initiative is part of the Lagos State Agriculture Roadmap. Initially, the plan was to start with 20 meat shops, but it was reduced to five in the pilot scheme. The overhaul in the transportation sector led to the introduction of the Eko Meat Van, ending the era of unwholesome meat conveyance practices.
Hon. Emmanuel Olotu, Chairman of the Lagos House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, commended the Ministry for introducing ideas that will bring food and comfort to residents’ doorsteps. He urged the Butchers Association to implement the training received at the Butchers Academy, emphasizing the responsibility of catering to over 20 million residents.
Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, said the initiative is a quality-control measure to ensure value for money. He assured that all Meat Shops will sell meat by weight in kilograms for uniformity.
Mr. Emmanuel Audu, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, described the event as groundbreaking, noting the importance of meat consumption issues for human existence. He emphasized that food safety cannot be overlooked, recalling that COVID-19 originated from an animal market in China. The initiative addresses safety and quality in meat distribution, with a focus on youth involvement in the process.
In his goodwill message, Alhaji Kazeem Bakare, Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the Butchers Association, thanked the Lagos State Government for the innovative project. He promised that the Butchers Association would embrace the new idea for safe meat handling, which would bring back members who had left the job for other occupations like Okada and Marwa.
Bakare also urged other states to adopt similar innovations to ensure the safe handling of meat among their residents.
The Last Mile Meat Shops are located in the Ijeh area of Dolphin Estate, Surulere, and Mushin.
