Lagos State Food Marshal Corps and the Oko oba Abattoir facelift

Last week the Nigerian Minister of Agric, Mr. Audu Ogbeh announced plans for a food safety policy for Nigeria. On this blog that type of announcement gets us excited. It made me very happy because if we follow through we will be able to compete favourably in the international market. We will also be able to reduce our food waste and food bill.

A scene from Tomatoes section of Mile 12 Market, Lagos

Although this National food safety policy is not yet out, the Lagos State Government came out with food safety plans of its own. The Special adviser on Food Security Lagos State, Mr. Ganiyu Okanlawon announced earlier in the week on zero tolerance against distribution of unwholesome foods and all forms of food poisoning in the State. He said it is necessary to monitor the whole process of food handling and distribution until it gets to the final consumers, adding that the office of Food Security is already proposing setting up Food Marshals Corp that will be positioned in various markets across the state for proper monitoring.

Food Marshal Corp might be a good idea on paper, they will probably be like the sanitary inspectors we presently have. Not to sound pessimistic but this I see as a punitive way to start. Left to me we have to start with a massive food safety campaign. We need people to own this initiative for

Makoko Fish Market - Cleaning Section

themselves and see why this is necessary for our health and environment. The campaign should connect the dots between the rampant diseases, food waste, environmental degradation and price of food.

We all complain about the high cost of food stuff in the market but most do not know that if the food waste is reduced in the value chain then the cost will also go down. The unhygienic practice in the market of food coloring, artificially ripening of fruits with unlicensed chemicals, formalin injected chicken/ turkey has also not been linked to any known ailment people can relate to. People need to connect the dots and see for themselves.

We will eventually need the Food Marshal Corp but not until we have gone a year or two massively educating the citizens so they do not think it is another tax collecting scheme the government is plotting. When the people are well informed and understand the need for food safety in our society, policing them will be more effective.

One major area that requires reorientation is the abattoir. I did an article in 2014 about the gory state of Kara abattoir in Ogun State, Oko Oba Agege, Lagos; which is much bigger than Kara is also just as bad. I also saw a documentary on the abattoir in Edo State in 2015 and it shows that abattoirs in other states of Nigeria are also very bad. I still can't believe Nigerians eat meat from these places.

Interestingly I read online this week that the Lagos State Government announced the possibility of a collaboration with MEATCO the premier livestock processing facility in Southern Africa. The Namibian company will support Lagos State with the technology and know-how of livestock processing to combat the challenges currently faced in this area. The management of MEATCO also agreed to visit Lagos State to assess the abattoir facilities at Oko Oba, Agege and partner with the government in building 2 brand new abattoirs.

With all these plans for Lagos state agriculture value chain I see a huge opportunity for wealth creation, job creation and development of the agric sector. A lot still needs to be done but we are seemingly on the right path. I will be watching and most definitely keeping you informed.