The purpose is to ensure that only wholesome beef is available to the populace. Prince Gbolahan Lawal, State Commissioner for Agriculture, said at the occasion that the state government was committed to sanitizing the value chain.
Lawal, flagging off the pilot scheme of the reform at Ita Faji Market in Lagos Island, noted that it would be done by embarking on three-pronged approach with the acronym A.T.M: Abattoir, Transportation and Market.
The Honorable commissioner also stated that the reform would not only ensure the consumption of
wholesome meat by the people, but it would also facilitate export of red meat to other countries.
( The Hon. Commissioner speaking about the reforms )The commissioner said that the reasons some African countries like Botswana, Namibia, Ethiopia and Kenya could export meats to Europe, Saudi Arabia and other developed countries is solely because of the reforms they have been able to carry out in their red meat value chains. These reforms made it possible for their red meat to meet the international standard.
The pilot scheme of the A.T.M reform kicked off on the 5/12/19 at Ita Faji market and it will last one month.
The commissioner also stated that the reform would be piloted in four local governments including: Lagos Island, Ita Faji Market; Ikorodu, Igando and Badagry axis and that the reform would go live across the 20 local government areas and 37 LCDA on Jan. 5, 2020.
The A.T.M approach refers to reforms in Abattoirs, Transportation and Marketing of beef in the state.
The reforms in the Abattoirs: makes it mandatory that all animals are to be slaughtered in registered abattoirs and are to be issued certificate of health and wholesomeness after inspection by veterinary doctors.
The abattoirs in the state are given codes for tractability such that the codes tallies with the certificate and meat receipts.
The meat receipt issued to meat vendors that purchase already certified carcasses, and the number on the receipt matches that on the certificate of health and wholesomeness .
( Dr Ojuri, explaining the A.T.M)Transportation: in Lagos it is only Eko refrigerated meat vans that must move beef. The vans have codes that matches the abattoir where the beef is processed and a number indicating its designated markets.
The carcasses are transported to the markets in cool conditions under hygienic conditions.
Market: In our markets now, only carcasses with certificates and receipts are allowed into the market. The certificate and receipt are the new pass for dispatch of beef in Lagos markets.
The meat processed in hygienic conditions and transported in cool conditions are received in markets by well kitted butchers with clean overall,caps,gloves and safety foot wear.
The beef is displayed in clean covered butchering tables that prevents unnecessary handling of beef by prospective buyers and also keeps flies and dust away from the beef.
The butchering tables adopted in the markets are those made with Teflon cutting tops,to prevent splitting wood with meat when cutting it.
The A.T.M strategy is to ensure only wholesome beef is available to the populace from abattoir to the market. Read also:
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