FG DISTRIBUTES REFRIGERATED MEAT VANS TO ENHANCE MODERN MEAT HAULAGE SYSTEM
Federal Government has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to resuscitate meat haulage system in Nigeria by flagging-off distribution of refrigerated Meat Vans to Butchers and Meat Seller’s Association to commence the process of modernized meat haulage system in their respective States.
Speaking during the National Stakeholders Workshop on Meat Hygiene /Distribution of Refrigerated Meat Vans to Butchers and Meat Seller’s Association in Abuja recently, the Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar said that the quest to address the issues concerning meat haulage was as result of concerns expressed for not ensuring safety of our foods which has caused huge amount of money in foreign exchange and has continued to limit Nigeria’s full participation in trade of most agricultural commodities outside the shores of the country.
He revealed that meat haulage was the act of transporting meat from one location to another, either within the abattoir premises or between the abattoirs in Nigeria today do not conform to global best practices that guarantees safety for transporters, the carcass and the consumers.
Abubakar pointed out that ‘’ the practice was undesired especially where carcasses had to be transported on wheel barrows ,open vans ,pick up vans , among others thereby exposing the meat to high level contamination and quality compromised’’.
Speaking further, the Minister stated that the ministry in collaboration with financial institutions and private investors expected that each state of the Federation would start with at least Five (5) refrigerated meat vans including the one that was donated free from the Federal Government through the Ministry.
Dr. Abubakar, therefore, noted that come May 29th, 2023, anyone caught transporting meat in contravention of the modern meat haulage protocols, would be left with no option than to have his/her carcasses.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe represented by the Director, Veterinary & Pest Control Services,Dr. Maimuna Habib said meat hygiene was an important aspect of food safety that should not be handled with kid gloves ,nothing that it was in recognition of the perishable nature of meat and meat offal that necessitated the need to improve on the operation of meat processing.
He pointed out that apart from the need to sanitize and bring meat haulage system in international standard ,the operation had the potential to create sustainable jobs to youths in Nigeria ,adding that it was worthy of note that ,few states and investors had already keyed into the roadmap that guaranteed delivery of safe and qualitative meat to consumers.
Umakhihe, however, noted that Ministry had contributed to the drafting of the National Food Safety and Quality Bill that had passed third reading at the National Assembly.
In his remarks, the National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Baba Ngelzarma commended the Hon. Minister for the laudable initiative and called for an urgent need to train butchers and Meat sellers Association.
Highlight of the event was the unveiling of 11 Refrigerated Meat Vans by the Hon. Minister.
In attendance were the representatives of Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation, NAIC, Bank of Agriculture, BOA, Agriculture Research Council of Nigeria, ARCN, Directors of Veterinary Services, President, National Butchers Union of Nigeria, FAO Nigeria, CEO ABIS Farms, CEO Blue Blood Veterinary Services amongst others
Eremah Anthonia (Mrs)
Chief Information Officer
For: Director Information (FMARD)
6/01/2023
FMARD PARTNERS WITH LAGOS STATE GOVT TO ENSURE PROPER HAULAGE OF MEAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has assured of its readiness to partner Lagos State government in order to improve the distributing meat across the country.
Speaking during the study tour and stakeholders engagement to understudy the air-cool Meatvans from the Abattoirs and Slaughterhouses to the various meat markets in Lagos State recently, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria and Director Federal Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Dr. Maimuna Abdullahi Habbib said that “the objectives of the tour was to understudy the state air-cool Meatvans, the Abattoirs and the Slaughterhouses.
She revealed that the Ministry would facilitate the process to ensure that a policy was drafted to ensure smooth operations, enforcement and implementation of the process across the nation, pointing out that the Ministry had procured 37 vehicles that would be distributed to butchers for free in order to facilitate the process across the country”.
She further stated that the Ministry would strengthened it collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to make every structure and every movement of meat from abattoir to the market across the country a success.
In her remarks the Hon. Commissioner Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture Ms. Ruth Abisola Olusanya said that “prior to the launching of Eko Meat van Project in Year 2004, Meat haulage business in Lagos State was rather disorganised, haphazard and unregulated, adding that wooden carts were used to transport Meat and Carcasses from Abattoirs and Slaughter facilities to the deboning and bulk-breaking sections.
She pointed out that four Private investors and Butchers Association Group formed the executing stakeholders to run the fleet of air-cool Meatvans from the Abattoirs and Slaughterhouses to the various meat markets statewide, noting that the project was funded by Polaris bank in agreement with the stakeholders.
She further stated that In 2009, the Ministry launched the Eko Refrigerated Meatvan Project which was an advancement of the air-cool Eko Meatvans into refrigerated form and a total of fourteen private investors’ companies along with the State Butchers Association’s and Lagoon Butchers Ventures were successfully –screened and licensed to operate the project under a jointly-registered cooperative umbrella (Agege Meat van Multipurpose Cooperative society).
In his welcome address, the state Director of veterinary services Dr. Macaulay Rasheed Molade said that “the refrigerated meat transportation project runs from 2009 till date and it is involved in the daily haulage of Meat carcasses, cattle officials, head and feet as well as other cow parts from the abattoirs/slaughter facilities to the various meat markets”.
Earlier, in his Goodwill message, the Chairman Lagos State butchers Association Mr. Alabi Bamidele Kazeem said that “the butchers have been supportive to the state government and will continue give its maximum cooperation”.
The Essence of the Visit was to understudy the model of meat haulage in the state’s abattoirs, under the umbrella company known as the EKO REFRIGERATED MEAT HAULAGE. It aimed at adopting the best practices in our abattoirs nationwide and learn from the challenges that come from the initiatives in order to improve on them.
In attendance were Representative of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), National Agricultural Insurance Cooperation (NAIC), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and the CEO A is Farmers Market.
Mohammed A. Gana
Information Officer I
For: Director, Information (FMARD)
3/01/2023
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