The Rivers State Government says the permanent close down of the Oginigba slaughter market in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area has no religious or ethnic colouration.
Dr. Fred Kpakol, the Commissioner for Agricultur said that contrary to claims in some quarters that the action was meant to dislodge some persons, it was part of the urban renewal measures of the present administration.
“This decision to close the market was taken after the meeting of or executive council on the August 2, 2021. This decision is in line with His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wiken’s urban renewal programme to display the aesthetic beauty of Port Harcourt and Rivers State.
“It was not done with any religious colouration, neither does it have any ethnic bias nor politically motivated. It is not sentimental. So, there will be no need for anybody to pour vituperations on government.”
According to him, the land where the slaughter was located belong to the Oginigba people and by extension Rivers people and not the federal government.
He said that the state (Rivers) reserved the absolute right on the use or otherwise of this land.
While stressing the need for people to do their businesses in line with best practices, he said there are 43 slaughters in the state.
“The status of this abattoir in the state. There are 43 abattoirs in Rivers State. They are scattered around and I must ask that everybody must do their businesses in line with best standard practices. The Oginigba slaughter came into operation in 1979, 1981 and it has three slabs. One for goat, one for cattle and one for pigs.
“But I want to put it on record that one and a half years ago, about the 27th day of March 2020, the Oginigba slaughter was closed down because of very poor sanitary conditions in that environment. The government found out that if that market was not closed, it was going to negatively impact our people.
“Right now if you go to that environment, it houses criminals. There is a place called post three. In this post three, all the criminals in this state are there. If you move out in the night, 6pm, 7pm, they will snatch your bag. Prostitutes are also there.
“You know an environment where prostitutes are invites criminals. Market is not supposed to be where people will sleep, defecate and do all sort of things. The health situation in the state was compromised. So, it was not very good for us. The government now decided and we took a very good decision. Now the urban renewal programme of the government is moving from one stage to the other.
“We said let us move to a better place where we are going to change from the manual method to a fully automated abattoir that meets world best practices and standards seated on 21 plots of land,” he said.
