How Uba Sani modernized abattoirs, transformed meat processing – Butchers

Governor Uba Sani Transforms Meat Preservation and Marketing in Kaduna State

KADUNA, Nigeria — Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has made significant strides in meat preservation and marketing through the installation of modern cold-chain facilities in abattoirs across the state’s three senatorial districts.

On Monday, the Sabon Gari Branch of the Butchers Association of Nigeria praised the governor for this initiative, noting improvements in food safety, hygiene, and a reduction in post-slaughter losses. The upgrades have also contributed to a substantial increase in earnings for butchers.

During a media tour, facilitated by the Commissioner of Information and Culture, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, members of the Butchers Association inspected the enhancements made to the Zango Shanu Modern Abattoir in Sabon Gari Local Government Area.

Alkasim Mai-Nama, speaking on behalf of the Association, highlighted the previous challenges faced due to inadequate storage facilities. “Before now, if meat remained unsold, we had no option but to throw it away because there was nowhere to preserve it,” he said. “Today, with the cold rooms provided by Governor Sani’s administration, we can safely store meat for later sale. This has drastically reduced wastage, improved hygiene, and increased our daily income.”

Mai-Nama added that the enhanced sanitary conditions at the abattoir have bolstered public confidence in the safety and quality of the meat processed there.

Jamilu Umar, Vice Chairman of the Butchers Association, described the intervention as the most extensive rehabilitation of the abattoir since its establishment in the early 1980s. “For more than three decades, we operated under very difficult conditions. There were no functional drainage systems, poor water supply, and no cold rooms for preservation,” he noted. “What we have today is a complete transformation that has restored dignity to our work and improved public health standards.”

Sarkin Fawan Badawa, Musa Dalhat Abubakar, remarked that the construction of a perimeter fence has enhanced security at the facility, protecting the investments of butchers and livestock traders. “For over 30 years, the abattoir remained exposed to encroachment and theft,” he said. “Now, our businesses are more secure, and the improved infrastructure has attracted butchers from neighboring Katsina and Zamfara states, boosting local economic activity.”

Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture, Malam Murtala Dabo, stated that the Uba Sani administration has prioritized investments across the livestock value chain to improve productivity and enhance food security.

Dabo disclosed that 19 pastoralist communities have been provided with pasture fields and solar-powered boreholes to reduce seasonal migration and minimize conflicts between farmers and herders. “By providing grazing support and water infrastructure, we are enabling pastoralists to remain in designated settlements,” he said.

Additionally, the government has constructed three modern abattoirs in Kaduna State’s three senatorial zones—Kawo (Kaduna North), Kafanchan (Jema’a), and Zango Shanu (Sabon Gari)—along with 21 slaughterhouses throughout the state. These facilities are equipped with modern cold-chain infrastructure, including cold rooms and solar-powered boreholes to ensure safe meat processing and storage.

Dabo emphasized that the upgraded Zango Shanu Modern Abattoir reflects the administration’s commitment to improving public health, enhancing food safety, and positioning Kaduna State as a leading hub for livestock production and meat processing in Nigeria.

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