Lagos develops policy to tackle poverty in 2017

Begins rehabilitation of Oko-Oba abattoir

To ensure that the masses live above poverty in 2017, the Lagos State government has developed framework for a Social Protection Policy (SPP).

The Director, Development Partnership, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budgeting, Lagos, Mr. Adetola Bankole, made this known yesterday during a sensitisation workshop on the policy at Surulere Local Council.

The event organised by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget (MEPB) with support of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) was attended by community leaders, stakeholders, religious leaders, women and youths to discuss issues affecting them.

According to Bankole, the policy will act like a social support to cater to the needs of the aged and young people.

“For a child to live above poverty level, he or she must attend school, have good health, water, food and housing. This social protection policy will enable government plan and channel fund towards the issues discussed.

“Government wants Lagos residents to live above the poverty level and this is why we are here today. The government wants to carry the people along, to have their input. This will take place in the three senatorial zones beginning with Lagos central,” he explained.

The Sole Administrator of Surulere local council, Sheriff Olawale expressed appreciation for the SPP, saying it will improve the life of the citizens.

UNICEF Social Policy Specialist in Lagos, Muhammad Okorie said the agency decided to partner Lagos as part of its mandate to ensure that the needs of women and children everywhere are met.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to ensure hygienic meat is sold in Lagos, the state government has commenced the rehabilitation and restructuring of the Oko Oba Abattoir and Lairage complex in Agege, for improved operations.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau, who led officials from the Ministry of Agriculture on a tour of the complex to inspect the facility said the rehabilitation work include perimeter fencing of the complex; removal of slums, shanties, the unapproved market around the complex and removal of waste.

Suarau in a statement by the Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo said the work will also involve reconditioning and management of the mechanised slaughter line at the complex; installation of facilities for waste conversion known as bio gas plant; construction of transit camp; provision of general cleaning services; construction of stripe processing facility and rehabilitation and maintenance of waste recycling plant.

He stated that the plan is to rehabilitate the mechanised facility capable of slathering 1,800 animals per day to ensure that the products meet global quality and compliance requirements.

He added that installation of facilities for waste conversion will help convert large volume of waste generated at the abattoir into biogas.

“The rehabilitation work will also involve construction of transit camp, housing facilities comprising 100 units of self-contained rooms to accommodate cattle merchants on transit and the building of head, hide and stripe processing facility to curb unhygienic processing of meat products,” he said.

The commissioner assured that the state government would continue to train butchers, dislodge illegal abattoirs and seize stray animals.