Kaduna Butchers Hail Uba Sani as Modern Abattoir Upgrade Boosts Meat Preservation, Food Safety

The Kaduna State Government says its investment in modern abattoir infrastructure is transforming meat processing and preservation, with butchers reporting higher earnings, improved hygiene and reduced post-slaughter losses.

Members of the Butchers Association of Nigeria, Sabon Gari Branch, on Monday praised Governor Uba Sani for upgrading the Zango Shanu Modern Abattoir in Sabon Gari Local Government Area, describing the project as a game changer for the livestock and meat industry.

The commendation came during a media tour of government projects in Kaduna’s Zone One, facilitated by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki.

Speaking on behalf of the association, Alkasim Mai-Nama said the installation of modern cold-chain facilities has eliminated the long-standing challenge of meat spoilage caused by the absence of proper storage facilities.

“Before now, if meat remained unsold, we had no option but to throw it away because there was nowhere to preserve it. Today, with the cold rooms provided by Governor Uba Sani’s administration, we can safely store meat for later sale. This has drastically reduced wastage, improved hygiene and increased our daily income,” he said.

Mai-Nama added that the improved sanitary conditions at the abattoir have strengthened consumer confidence in the safety and quality of meat processed at the facility.

The Vice Chairman of the Butchers Association, Jamilu Umar, described the project as the most comprehensive rehabilitation of the abattoir since it was established in the early 1980s. He recalled that butchers previously operated without functional drainage systems, reliable water supply or cold storage facilities.

“What we have today is a complete transformation that has restored dignity to our work and improved public health standards,” Umar said.

Also speaking, the Sarkin Fawan Badawa, Musa Dalhat Abubakar, said the construction of a perimeter fence has significantly improved security at the facility, protecting butchers and livestock traders from theft and encroachment.

According to him, the improved infrastructure has attracted traders from neighbouring Katsina and Zamfara states, increasing commercial activities and boosting the local economy.

Earlier, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture, Malam Murtala Dabo, said the Uba Sani administration has continued to invest across the livestock value chain to improve productivity, strengthen food security and support rural livelihoods.

He disclosed that the state government has also provided 19 pastoralist communities with pasture fields and solar-powered boreholes as part of efforts to reduce seasonal migration and minimise farmer-herder conflicts.