The Lagos State House of Assembly has stopped the ongoing construction of a loading bay at the Agege abattoir to forestall an imminent breakdown of law and order.

A statement by the information/public relations unit, Lagos State House of Assembly, says the Irepodun Abattoir and Lairage Association of the market petitioned the State House of Assembly on the unwholesome activities of Messrs Harmony Abattoir Management Service Limited with the connivance of the State's Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives. The traders had in the petition, accused Messrs Harmony Abattoir Management Services Limited of distorting the original plan of the abattoir complex which is basically meant for the slaughtering of cattle and their transportation to various destinations within the State.

The petitioner further alleged that the organization presented a purported approval by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Co-operatives, Hon. Kolapomoye Ajiboso, to construct a loading bay within the abattoir complex which according to them, is an attempt to build another abattoir within the existing complex.

Though the petitioner submitted that it could not ascertain the veracity of the Harmony Management's claim to have had the nod of the Agriculture Ministry, but expressed reservations, noting that construction of the bay within the complex will certainly affect the smooth operations of the abattoir especially in the transportation chain of the Eko Meat Scheme recently introduced by the state government. Furthermore, the petition also stated that the original masterplan of the complex is being distorted through illegal constructions that have taken over the complex lately. It cited the construction of a motor garage, mechanic workshop, amongst others as some of the illegal developments. They thereafter urged the state government and the state House of Assembly to intervene and halt the construction of another meat market within the complex under the pretext of constructing a loading bay.

While deliberating the issue, Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture and Co-operatives, Hon. Babatunde Jimoh Adewale, disclosed that the committee was inundated with complaints by the market men and women from the abattoir over the issue and urged the House to take urgent steps to address them.