The committee Kano State Government set up to probe the Nigerian Meat and Allied Products (NIMAP) abattoir at the Chalawa Industrial Area has said that the facility is in a deplorable state.
The committee, chaired by Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, visited the site on Tuesday as part of its ongoing investigation into the alleged vandalization and sale of the multi-billion-naira project.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had set up the 11-member panel last week to probe the alleged disposal of the abattoir under former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s administration.
Addressing reporters after the inspection, Muhuyi described the development as “a monumental destruction of unimaginable magnitude,” noting that what remains of the project is only traces of structures that once stood for over three decades.
He explained that the abattoir originally designed for halal meat processing and fish farming, had the potential to serve both local and international markets, especially in Arab countries.
However, much of the equipment, reportedly worth more than N20 billion, had either been vandalized, auctioned, or illegally allocated to individuals.
“We are looking into two key issues: identifying those responsible for destroying the structures and tracing the whereabouts of the missing equipment. Some of the buyers have already been identified, and recovery efforts are ongoing,” Muhuyi said.
He added that part of the land belonging to the facility had been balkanized, further complicating the matter.
The chairman assured that the panel would carry out its assignment with fairness and diligence, and at the end of the exercise submit recommendations to guide government action.
According to him, the findings will help the state protect and possibly recover vital assets that could boost Kano’s economy
