The Rivers State House of Assembly has summoned the Commissioners for Agriculture, Health and Environment to appear before it, next Tuesday, to answer questions related to unhealthy practices at the abattoirs in the state.
The commissioners, according to the assembly, are to appear before the house to explain specifically why slaughter houses still use scrap tyres to burn animal meat and other unsustainable and dangerous environmental practices.
The summon was made when the House entertained a motion on the use of scrap tyres by abattoirs in the state brought to it by the lawmaker representing Asari-Toru Constituency 2, Hon Enemi George.
While deliberating on the summons, 11 members argued in support of the invitation when the Speaker of the house, Rt Hon Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani sought members’ contributions.
George had earlier lamented the long standing practice of using tyres to burn meat, which he said, was dangerous to health of those who consume meat.
The lawmaker reminded the speaker that “tyres are made of synthetic rubber, natural rubber, fabric wire, carbon black and numerous chemical compounds.”
Arguing further, George said, “a research of the US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease registry reveals that tyres contain several heavy weight metals such as lead, zinc and copper, that could be carcinogenous when exposed to consumers over a long time”.
According to him, research shows that some metal residue still hide in cattle hides after burning, which could be injurious and unsafe for human consumption.
“Mr Speaker, this means that Rivers people have been ingesting large quantities of these substances,” he said, linking the black sooth witnessed in the environment to this practice.
He said “to save us from this trend, we have to take serious steps as an assembly to reverse this practice”.
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