The Abia State Government has directed environmental health officers to immediately inspect all abattoirs across the state and prevent butchers from using vehicle tyres to roast animal skin, popularly known as “kanda.”

The government warned that the practice poses serious health risks to residents, including a potential cancer threat.

The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna, gave the directive in Aba on Thursday during a meeting with environmental health officers.

Ogbonna called for strict enforcement of environmental and health regulations at abattoirs across the state, stressing the need to ensure that sanitation and safety standards are maintained.

The commissioner also directed the officers to enforce the government’s order stopping sand mining and dredging activities in Umuigwe and Uratta communities in Osisioma.

He explained that the Aba master plan does not permit sand mining activities in the affected areas.

Ogbonna further urged the environmental health officers to intensify public sensitisation on proper sanitation practices and educate residents on the importance of maintaining clean and healthy surroundings.

Earlier, the Abia State President of the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN), Obieze Odimuko, and the association’s Treasurer, Mrs. Onyinyechi Nwigwe, disclosed the level of enforcement activities carried out by environmental health officers in the state.

They said the officers had visited 1,382 villages and inspected 79,955 premises.

According to them, 50,236 abatement notices were issued, while 22,143 cases of compliance were recorded.

They added that 2,559 defaulters were prosecuted between June 2025 and August 2026.