Iliyasu Abdullahi Bah
The World Bank has issued a stark warning over the deplorable sanitary conditions of abattoirs in Taraba State, raising alarms about a potential public health crisis unless urgent reforms are implemented.
Speaking in Jalingo on Tuesday during a capacity-building workshop for meat inspectors and abattoir managers, the State Coordinator of the World Bank-supported L-Press program, Hananiah Albert, revealed that a recent assessment showed most slaughterhouses in the state lack basic hygiene infrastructure. These facilities reportedly operate without access to clean water, proper waste disposal systems, or standardized meat processing procedures.
Albert emphasized that such unhygienic conditions create fertile ground for foodborne illnesses and zoonotic diseases, which could escalate into widespread epidemics.
The warning forms part of a broader diagnostic review of Nigeria’s livestock value chain under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-Press) program, with Taraba identified as a high-risk area for meat safety violations.
Public health experts caution that the ongoing situation endangers both meat handlers and consumers, exposing them to dangerous pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and anthrax. The unsanitary state of abattoirs also threatens the viability of Taraba’s meat trade, both locally and in regional markets.
In response, the World Bank is urging Taraba authorities to immediately upgrade abattoir infrastructure to align with international hygiene standards. Key recommendations include enforcing compliance with food safety regulations, training butchers and inspectors in modern hygiene practices, and establishing continuous monitoring mechanisms.
“The transformation of Taraba’s meat processing sector is not just a matter of public health—it’s essential for economic resilience,” Albert said. “Unhygienic abattoirs erode consumer trust and limit market opportunities for local livestock producers.”
Taraba’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Professor Nicolas Nemessan, acknowledged the concerns and pledged to utilize L-Press funding to overhaul abattoir operations across the state.
However, health advocates stress that without sustained political commitment and active community engagement, these reforms may remain on paper—with potentially dire consequences for public health.
Across Nigeria, many state-run abattoirs are in a state of disrepair. Butchers often slaughter sick or unfit animals in unsanitary environments, compounding risks to consumers. Public health researcher and professor of medicine at the University of Port Harcourt, Best Edioha, warns that poor waste management in such facilities can trigger deadly disease outbreaks within surrounding communities.
The World Bank’s intervention underscores how critical infrastructure gaps in Nigeria’s food production and public health systems continue to pose silent but significant threats to national health security—even as attention remains focused on more visible disease outbreaks.