The Oyo State Government at the weekend allayed the fears of butchers in Ibadan land on the relocation directive to the central abattoir at Amosun Village.
It assured them that adequate security and transportation systems were in place for the sustenance of peace in the state as well as to facilitate the ease of doing business.
The Executive Secretary, Oyo State Bureau of Investment Promotions and Public Private Partnership, Mr. Yinka Fatoki, explained that the decision to relocate to the central abattoir at Amosun Village, Akinyele Local Government Area, was reached after a series of consultative meetings and deliberations which led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the government and the National Butchers Union of Nigeria (NUBN), the umbrella body of the butchers.
Fatoki noted that Governor Abiola Ajimobi addressed various issues that were raised before the signing of the MoU, saying that the petition written by a few members of the union on insecurity was uncalled for as the government had reassured of adequate security.
The MoU signed, he said, also addressed security issue.
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He said that the state government was surprised by the actions of a few disgruntled and recalcitrant members of the butchers union’s resistance to government directives to relocate to the central abattoir after the series of meetings with the governor.
He stressed that the government would not be deterred by the fabricated security challenges to reverse its decision.
The Executive Secretary pointed out that peace, security and safety were the foundation of the present administration in the state and the interest of the general public superceded that of a few members of the union.
He said the decision to move all abattoirs in Ibadan to the central abattoir was hinged on sanitary and health importance of the people of Oyo state.
Fatoki disclosed that the State Ministry of Agriculture had unlicensed all slabs or abattoirs in Ibadan for about two years (since 2014) on account of unsanitary circumstances of the major slaughter slabs at Bodija, Aleshinloye and Gege area among others.
