The Lagos State Government has intensified its campaign against environmental pollution, urging operators of abattoirs and slaughterhouses to embrace waste recovery and explore ways of turning slaughtering by-products into economically useful materials.
The state government said the approach would not only improve sanitation and protect public health but also create opportunities for businesses, employment and additional income.
The position was disclosed at a one-day workshop for abattoir operators held at ABIS Farmers Market, Ajah, Lagos, according to a statement issued on Friday by the spokesperson for the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Kunle Adeshina.
The workshop, themed “Red to Green: From Waste Disposal to Resource Recovery,” was organised to promote sustainable handling of abattoir waste while examining ways of converting discarded materials into valuable resources.
The Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Gaji Tajudeen, said abattoirs and slaughterhouses remained important to the state’s food supply chain, livelihoods and wider economic activities.
Tajudeen, represented at the event by the Director, Public Sanitation Utility, Rahman Fagbolade, noted that slaughtering and meat-processing activities generated various forms of waste, including blood, paunch and rumen contents, bones, horns, hooves, faecal matter and wastewater.
He warned that poor handling of such materials could lead to environmental pollution, blocked drainage channels, unpleasant odours, poor sanitation and risks to public health.
The permanent secretary said the state would continue to enforce environmental and sanitation standards across abattoirs and slaughterhouses, while recognising that lasting compliance would require regular engagement, education and capacity building for operators.
According to him, the workshop was aimed at changing the prevailing approach to abattoir waste management from simple disposal to recovery, reuse and waste-to-wealth initiatives.
Tajudeen explained that several materials currently treated as waste could be processed into commercially useful products. Blood, paunch and rumen contents, wastewater and faecal matter, for instance, could be utilised in the production of biogas and organic fertiliser, while bones, horns and hooves could undergo further processing for value addition.
“When properly segregated, processed and managed, materials traditionally regarded as waste can become valuable resources that support enterprise development, job creation, additional income generation and the growth of a circular economy,” he said.
He identified regulation, education, innovation and collaboration as essential components of a sustainable waste management system within the abattoir sector.
Tajudeen also urged operators to view environmental compliance beyond the fulfilment of government regulations, describing it as an investment in public health, consumer confidence and the long-term viability of their businesses.
He encouraged young entrepreneurs, farmers and other stakeholders to take advantage of emerging opportunities in resource recovery and waste-to-wealth initiatives.
According to him, such opportunities could stimulate new businesses, create jobs and contribute to agricultural productivity while reducing the environmental impact of abattoir operations.
The permanent secretary stressed that achieving a cleaner and healthier Lagos could not be left to government agencies alone, but required coordinated action by government, businesses, communities and individuals.
He described the “Red to Green” initiative as a shift in how waste is perceived, from an environmental liability to a potential economic resource.
Tajudeen urged participants to apply the knowledge gained from the workshop, share practical experiences and develop workable solutions to the challenges facing the sector.
He said the effectiveness of the initiative would ultimately depend on what operators and other stakeholders did after the workshop.
“The true measure of success for this initiative will not be today’s discussions alone, but the actions we take afterwards—in our abattoirs, slaughterhouses, farms, businesses and communities,” he said.
He commended the ABIS Group for providing support and hosting the programme, expressing optimism that the initiative would contribute to improved sanitation, environmental sustainability and the development of a circular economy in Lagos.
In a presentation titled “From By-products to Business: Unlocking the Economic Value of Bones, Horns, Hooves and Other Abattoir By-products,” the guest lecturer, Muyiwa Semowo, encouraged operators to adopt innovative methods of converting slaughterhouse by-products into commercially viable materials.
Semowo said properly processed abattoir by-products could serve as raw materials for several sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and animal feed.
He advised operators to pay greater attention to the segregation, handling and processing of waste in order to improve the quality of recovered materials and increase their commercial value.
According to him, adopting circular economy practices in the sector would simultaneously reduce pollution, improve sanitation around abattoirs and create opportunities for enterprise development, employment and increased earnings.
The workshop was attended by operators of abattoirs and slaughterhouses from different parts of Lagos State.
Lagos govt urges abattoir operators to turn waste into wealth