Plateau Lawmakers Demand Crackdown on Unchecked Animal Slaughter to Curb Deadly Diseases

The Plateau State House of Assembly is sounding the alarm over the growing public health risk posed by poorly inspected meat making its way into the food chain. Lawmakers are urging the state government to tighten animal inspection at abattoirs to stem the spread of zoonotic diseases—those passed from animals to humans.

Source: The Guardian Nigeria News

During a heated plenary session, Nanbol Daniel of Langtang North-Central decried the routine slaughter of sick animals, some still under medication and unfit for human consumption. He warned that the lack of thorough inspections, often driven by the pursuit of revenue, is putting citizens at risk. According to him, what should be a frontline health safeguard has instead become a dangerous oversight.

Speaker Naanlong Daniel, who presided over the session, acknowledged the urgency of the issue, as lawmakers rallied behind the motion. The call wasn’t just for better monitoring—it was a push for the government to equip inspectors with the resources they need to enforce health standards that protect lives.

In a related development, lawmaker Abdul Yanga emphasized the need for a modernized state abattoir, calling it a crucial step toward ensuring only disease-free animals are processed for consumption. The plea reflects mounting concern over food safety and the role it plays in the broader health of the population.

The session also saw the introduction of a bill aimed at curbing environmental degradation through a ban on unauthorized tree logging and the commercial sale of firewood and charcoal—signaling a shift toward stronger ecological protection in the state.

Leadership updates were also made during the plenary, with Gabriel Dewan named minority leader and Nanbol Daniel appointed minority whip, as standing committees were formally reinstated by the speaker.Plateau Lawmakers Demand Crackdown on Unchecked Animal Slaughter to Curb Deadly Diseases

The Plateau State House of Assembly is sounding the alarm over the growing public health risk posed by poorly inspected meat making its way into the food chain. Lawmakers are urging the state government to tighten animal inspection at abattoirs to stem the spread of zoonotic diseases—those passed from animals to humans.

During a heated plenary session, Nanbol Daniel of Langtang North-Central decried the routine slaughter of sick animals, some still under medication and unfit for human consumption. He warned that the lack of thorough inspections, often driven by the pursuit of revenue, is putting citizens at risk. According to him, what should be a frontline health safeguard has instead become a dangerous oversight.

Speaker Naanlong Daniel, who presided over the session, acknowledged the urgency of the issue, as lawmakers rallied behind the motion. The call wasn’t just for better monitoring—it was a push for the government to equip inspectors with the resources they need to enforce health standards that protect lives.

In a related development, lawmaker Abdul Yanga emphasized the need for a modernized state abattoir, calling it a crucial step toward ensuring only disease-free animals are processed for consumption. The plea reflects mounting concern over food safety and the role it plays in the broader health of the population.

The session also saw the introduction of a bill aimed at curbing environmental degradation through a ban on unauthorized tree logging and the commercial sale of firewood and charcoal—signaling a shift toward stronger ecological protection in the state.

Leadership updates were also made during the plenary, with Gabriel Dewan named minority leader and Nanbol Daniel appointed minority whip, as standing committees were formally reinstated by the speaker.