The Abia State government has officially reopened the abattoirs located in Lokpanta and Uzuakoli, which were previously shuttered due to unsanitary conditions. This announcement was made by the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, during a press briefing following the recent executive council meeting led by Governor Alex Otti.

Kanu highlighted that the renovations undertaken at the abattoirs have successfully met health and safety standards, allowing them to resume operations. He emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring hygiene in food processing facilities in the state.

In addition to the reopening of the abattoirs, Kanu reported that the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) has initiated a door-to-door waste collection service across various districts in Umuahia and Aba, along with street-by-street refuse collection efforts in parts of Abia North. These initiatives aim to improve the environmental sanitation within the state.

Furthermore, ASEPA’s General Manager, Ogbonnaya Okereke, raised concerns regarding the unsafe practices surrounding meat processing, particularly the use of tire flames, which poses serious health risks. To address this issue, he announced that the state government plans to implement a biogas conversion project using cow dung as a sustainable solution to mitigate the problem.

In lighter news, the state government extended its congratulations to the Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia for securing a CAF continental ticket for the upcoming season, marking this achievement as a historic milestone for the team and the state.

On a somber note, the government expressed its condolences regarding the passing of the Commissioner for Labour and Employment, Sunny Onwuma, who died several weeks ago. His burial is scheduled for Thursday, May 15, 2025.