Epidemic Looms In Agege; As Dirty Abattoir Poses Danger To Health

Residents of Old Abeokuta Motor Road, Abattoir in  Oko-Oba and other areas in Agege, Lagos, are at the risk of impending outbreak of epidemic as a result of the offensive odour from the abattoir located in the area.

Apart from damage to the environment, the abattoir is a stop over for flood any time it rained as most of the drainages around are blocked by refuse discharged from there.

Yusuf Olayinka, a butcher, told Lagos Bulletin that the area is always flooded as the canal from Fagba to the abattoir and another one in Oko-Oba Estate are blocked completely.

According to him, the disgusting odour complained of by the residents is as a result of flushing of blood and other wastes from slaughtered cows into the canal.

One of the residents, Sola Olaosebi, said the situation is becoming unbearable and called on the appropriate authorities to do something fast about it.

Another resident, Olayinka, lamented that efforts made to stop the flood ravaging the area whenever it rained and the unpleasant odour discharged from the abattoir have been to no avail and therefore pleaded with government to come to their aid.

However, a butcher who refused to disclose his identity, said the problem of flooding was caused by government as some of the roads in the area are bad while the gutters are blocked. He also blamed some traders in the market for dumping refuse in the gutters.

Oriyomi Olaoye, another butcher, said the flood can be stopped if only the canal can be widened and made more deep, noting, however, that the unpleasant odour at the abattoir is common to areas where such are located.

— Olasunkanmi Olatunji