The Lagos State Butchers Association has approached the state government for approval to launch a pilot ranching scheme at the Oko-Oba Abattoir as it awaits the allocation of land for its proposed Eko Ranches project in Epe.
The association’s Deputy State Chairman, Alhaji Wasiu Akande, said the group had applied for 25 acres of land to establish the ranch, which is expected to boost local cattle production and reduce reliance on livestock transported from distant parts of the country.
Akande disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, explaining that the initiative was conceived about three years ago to enable butchers to participate directly in cattle production.
According to him, the association has registered Eko Ranches with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and approached the state Ministry of Agriculture to secure the land on lease.
He, however, said the application was yet to receive approval, adding that other companies and private investors had also expressed interest in obtaining land in the area for ranching.
Akande attributed the delay partly to outstanding government plans and concerns over security and the provision of essential facilities needed to support the proposed farm settlement.
With the land allocation still pending, he said the association had decided to explore an alternative by seeking permission to use two unused structures at the Oko-Oba Abattoir to test-run the project.
“We have agreed to apply for two structures to start a test run. We are not relenting on it, and we feel we can start by test-running the project,” he said.
He explained that the pilot scheme would allow members to commence operations on a smaller scale while continuing to pursue the 25-acre land application in Epe.
Akande added that the proposed ranch would primarily support the cultivation of cattle feed, which he described as a key component of the project.
He said the association had continued to engage relevant government authorities and participate in meetings and seminars concerning the planned ranching initiative.
To ensure members across Lagos remain informed, Akande said the association had involved local government chapter chairmen and women leaders in discussions about the project.
He described the women leaders as ambassadors who communicate decisions and updates from association meetings to members and officials at the local government level.
Akande expressed the association’s commitment to the initiative, saying it could strengthen local cattle production and ease the logistical difficulties associated with transporting livestock over long distances.
He said the association would continue seeking the necessary government approvals to begin the pilot scheme while pursuing the proposed ranch in Epe. (NAN)