We lack basic facilities – Mararaba abattoir operators

Butchers Association of Mararaba Abattoir, has appealed to the relevant authorities in Karu Local Government Area and Nasarawa State government in particular, to come to their aid to provide basic facilities.

Mr Rabiu Adam, a member of the association at the Mararaba abattoir made the call on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Adam, who refuted the alleged use of unclean water from the erosion channels behind the market to wash meat, said that borehole had been provided for the butchers in the market about three years ago.

“Even when we did not have standard borehole water here, we were careful on the type of water we were using, some of us used to buy water from water vendors to wash our meat.

“But thanks be to God that our cry for water was heard which brought about the borehole we are using today, “ he said.

Adam said that the major issues bothering them were the bad road, filthy environment, lack of electricity in the cold room to preserve the leftover meat.

“You can see by yourself that the environment is filthy, which is unhygienic considering the fact that we are dealing on edible items and it is bad for our operation, “ Adam said.

Alhaji Umar Bayawa, another butcher, decried the operational costs posed on them due to lack of aforementioned basic facilities.

“We spend huge amount of money to buy fuel to power the generator to pump the water.

“And also, we spend so much money to preserve the leftover meat in the cold room outside the market environment, “ he said.

Bayawa called on the relevant authorities to upgrade the market, adding that the huge population trooping in to the abattoir everyday had overwhelmed the available facilities.

Mrs Eunice Uweh, a food seller said that she was not comfortable with the filthy environment considering the type of business she was engaged in.

Uweh therefore appealed to the government to treat Mararaba abattoir as one of the important generating revenue assets to the state.

NAN reports that there is a standard borehole with the overhead tank and taps running through some major points where animals are slaughtered within the market.