Speaking on Tuesday in Jalingo during a capacity-building workshop for meat inspectors and abattoir managers, the State Coordinator of the World Bank-supported project, Hananiah Albert, emphasized the urgent need to uphold hygiene standards in the meat processing chain to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases.

“The safety and quality of the meat we consume depend heavily on what happens before, during, and after slaughter.

“This is why meat inspection must be taken seriously, and abattoirs properly managed in line with national and international best practices to curb diseases such as tuberculosis, anthrax, and brucellosis”, Albert said.

He stressed that meat inspection and abattoir management were not merely technical tasks but essential pillars of food safety, disease control, and public health protection.

Albert lauded the Taraba State Government’s ongoing livestock reforms and explained that the training was designed to equip participants with standardized hygiene protocols and modern techniques for safer meat handling and processing.

“This training is a deliberate effort to empower frontline meat inspectors, veterinary officers, and abattoir workers with up-to-date knowledge to ensure uniformity, efficiency, and safety across abattoirs,” he stated.

Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Professor Nicholas Namessan, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to food safety and livestock development.

He noted that meat is one of the most widely consumed animal products in the state and that growing demand comes with added responsibilities.

“With our growing population and increasing urbanization, meat consumption is on the rise. But this also means we have a greater responsibility to ensure that what our people consume is hygienic, wholesome, and disease-free,” he said

Namessan urged participants to take the training seriously, describing them as key actors in promoting safe livestock consumption and public health.

He also reiterated the state government’s determination to expand the livestock value chain and strengthen its collaboration with L-PRES.