Abstract:
This study assessed the location and environmental conditions of abattoirs in Minna, Nigeria. It assessed the implications of the abattoir activities arising from their location and environmental conditions in Minna with a view to providing information that can inform policy in the planning of the abattoirs in the study area. The study focused on the identification and exermination of geographical locations of abattoirs in Minna, assessed the level of facilities in the abattoirs, examination of the environmental conditions of the abattoirs and implications of its operational activities on the neighbouring communities. The study covered six abattoirs located in Chanchaga, Tunga, UK Bello, Maitumbi, Tayi and Bosso communities within Minna metropolis. Theories such as Location theory and Environmental theory of Florence Nightingale were explored as an explanatory tool. To achieve the aim of the study, both Primary and Secondary data collection sources were used. The primary source used three sets of questionnaire targeting the residents of abattoirs areas, abattoir operators and regulatory agencies. Personal Observations, Global Positioning System (GPS), Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were all conducted and used to support information from the structured questionnaires. Data collected were subjected to analysis using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21, tables, percentages, indices and chart, reports and publications on relevant studies, files or publications of relevant government agencies and Google earth imageries were used as secondary source of information. Variables on socio-economic characteristics, facilities and amenities indices, various forms of environmental impact, conditions of the environment, interventions, perceptions on the abattoir locations, ownership, approval, date of establishment, employees and number of animal slaughtered, waste disposal, drainages and general environmental assessment were used in the analysis and testing of hypotheses. It was clear that most of the abattoirs were poorly located, inadequately equipped, unhygienically managed and weakly regulated, with negative environmental impacts on the neighbouring land uses. Despite the high level of impacts from these abattoirs, there was no government intervention to ameliorating the impact on the neighbourhood. Proper management, improvement on the design of the abattoir and good regulatory policies were suggested to reduce the impact caused by some of those abattoirs and relocation of the other abattoirs included in this study were recommended.
