Woman leader describes NANTs abbatoir, meat factory in FCT as boost to economy

Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka Abuja

Abuja the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) woman leader, National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTs), Amb (Mrs) Rachael Adewumi has described the newly opened NANTs Integrated Modern Abattoir and Meat Factory by the national body of the association as boost to the FCT economy.

Led by the National president of the association, Barr Ken Ukaoha, the NANTs at the national level finally opened the project in Giri, Gwagwalada area council, FCT and its tape – cutting and commissioning were respectively performed by the Minister of Women Affairs, Barr Uju Kennedy – Ohanenye and the Commissioner, Economic Affairs and Agriculture (EAA) in Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Madam Massanje Toure – Litse.

Dr (Mrs) Adewumi, who doubles as the president, TAKEM Empowerment Initiatives (TEIs), (an International Non Governmental Organisation (INGO) that empowers the widows and the less privileged within and outside Nigeria) spoke to selected journalists shortly after the commissioning of the Abbatoir and the Meat Factory, which she said was the first and best of its kind in the nation’s centre of unity.

Calling for prudent management of the facilities which she said made the project the best of its kind, Chief (Mrs) Adewumi however noted that proper management of the Abbatoir and the Meat Factory would give FCT residents and environs the best services expected therefrom.

Hailing ECOWAS and others who assisted in making the NANTs project achievable, Rachael Adewumi however observed with happiness that the era of loosing a lot of money and other resources, as a result of non availability of storage facilities, among others in various meat markets and abbatoirs by butchers and other traders over the time has become a thing of the past, with the emergence of an abbatoir and meat market of that standard in the FCT.

The woman leader however spoke at length on the economic benefits of the project to the traders, the area council and the FCT in general, just as she reiterated on its effective management.

The FCT chairman of the association, Prince Edozie Ugwu also hailed the national body for siting such project I’m his domain. He also noted that a project of that nature would go a long way farther economy.

While ommissioning the project, the Commissioner, Economic Affairs and Agriculture in ECOWAS, Madam Massanje Toure – Litse said the project would be replicated in other member countries of ECOWAS, even as she reiterated ECOWAS readiness to continue to collaborate with NANTs on strengthening regional livestock trade that would add value to economic development among member countries of ECOWAS.

Earlier, the National President of NANTs, Ukuoaha said: “The need to modernize the traditional method of meat – slaughtering and processing by subjecting the entire process under hygienic conditions had hitherto remained a mirage due to the huge capital investment involved in building modern facilities.

“The challenge is what informed the intervention by NANTs with the support of ECOWAS-RAAF and the Swiss Development Cooperation, SDC, to establish a modern abattoir which will address the issues relating to animal -slaughtering and ensure the sale of healthy meat to the public under very hygienic processing conditions that assures human health safety.”

Explaining that the project was implemented by NANTs with an integrated concept, aimed at promoting humane slaughter of animals, profitable waste conversion mechanism and capacity building engagements with public abattoir butchers, Ukaoha therefore disclosed that the project which has led to the creation of about 3,000 jobs also boost economic activities in the FCT

Informing that the Abattoir will serve as training centre to butchers on international best practices, Ukaoha added that some state governments have indicated interest on similar project that would be facilitated by NANTs.

Hailing NANTs for the project and believing that it will serve as training and consultancy centre for University of Abuja and others, the Gwagwalada area council chairman, Alhaji Abu Giri expressed the council’s readiness to to support NANTs on projects that would boost economy in the area.

The Aguma of Giri, Alhaji Musa Wakili in a remark said the project would empower youths in the community, just as he called on other Association to emulate NANTs in its fight to stabilise the economy.