The Lagos State Government has ordered the indefinite closure of the Oko-Oba Abattoir in Agege over what it described as appalling hygienic conditions and flagrant violations of environmental laws.
The directive was issued during an unscheduled inspection of the facility on Thursday by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who expressed deep concern over the unsanitary practices discovered at the abattoir, one of the largest meat processing hubs in the state.
“The government sent me here and I am just giving you a message. I am not going to mince words, we will shut it down fully until things are done in the right way,” Wahab declared, visibly angered by the condition of the facility.
The commissioner lamented the dehumanising conditions under which workers and residents were operating, describing the scene as unfit for both human and animal life.
“People cannot be sleeping in animal pens. It is not going to work. Let us try and do something right,” he said.
“When we shut it, somebody will sit down and think.”
The closure is part of the Sanwo-Olu administration’s broader #ZeroToleranceLagos campaign, aimed at enforcing environmental compliance and safeguarding public health.
Wahab, who posted the announcement via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account [@tokunbo_wahab], reiterated the government’s resolve to restore order and dignity to all public facilities across the state.
The post was tagged to official state handles including @followlasg and @LasgMOE.
He noted that the abattoir had repeatedly violated existing environmental and public health regulations despite multiple warnings, making government intervention inevitable.
The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources is expected to work with relevant agencies, including the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and veterinary services, to develop a roadmap for the rehabilitation and reopening of the facility under strict sanitary conditions.
The closure of the abattoir is likely to affect meat supply logistics across several parts of Lagos, but Wahab insisted that public health and rule of law take precedence.
Background:
The Oko-Oba Abattoir in Agege processes thousands of cattle and rams monthly and serves major markets across Lagos. Concerns have long been raised by residents, civil society groups, and food safety advocates over poor waste management, illegal settlements within the compound, and improper handling of animal products.
