Abia Bans Tyre-Burning For Meat Processing, Adopts Biogas

The Abia State Government has announced a groundbreaking initiative to eliminate the hazardous practice of roasting meat with burning tyres, replacing it with a safer, eco-friendly biogas technology.

This was disclosed by the General Manager of the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Mr Ogbonnaya Okereke, during a press briefing following the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.

The biogas project, currently being piloted in renovated abattoirs at Lokpanta and Uzuakoli, is part of ASEPA’s broader campaign to modernise waste management and safeguard public health. Mr. Okereke explained that the biogas, derived from animal waste, will be used to process hides (popularly known as kanda or kpomo), eliminating the health risks linked to the traditional tyre-burning method.

“We, the Igbos, are used to eating burnt meat. In the West, they inflate the meat and shave it, a different process altogether. Due to economic challenges, many abattoirs started using tyres, which unfortunately affect the taste and introduce harmful chemicals into the meat. This has severe health implications,” Okereke stated.

He described the biogas solution as a “complete cultural shift” that prioritises the health of Abia citizens while also promoting sustainable environmental practices.

In addition to the biogas innovation, Okereke highlighted ASEPA’s achievements in waste collection, including door-to-door services in Abia South and street-to-street collection in parts of Abia North. He urged residents to pay the revised sanitation fees to sustain these services, noting that Abia now ranks among Nigeria’s cleanest states.

Also speaking at the briefing, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Kanu, announced a strategic partnership with MTN Nigeria, marked by the signing of a six-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The agreement aims to provide 100 per cent broadband coverage across Abia State before the end of the year and includes initiatives such as:

Provision of smartphones, laptops, and Wi-Fi devices for civil servants through an 18–24-month device loan scheme.
Deployment of cloud services to support digital governance.
Establishment of a digital mall to boost informal business growth.
Expansion of 4G/5G networks in Umuahia, Aba, and Ohafia.
Creation of a statewide digital marketplace to enhance e-commerce and e-governance.

“This means a rice farmer in Abam or a cocoa trader in Bende can now conduct business from home. This aligns with Governor Alex Otti’s vision of transforming Abia into a 21st-century digital economy,” Kanu said.

On the energy front, Prince Kanu revealed that Abia State is at an advanced stage in acquiring a 60 per cent stake in the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC)’s assets in Abia. This acquisition is expected to significantly improve the power supply in eight local government areas in Abia Central and Abia North.

Furthermore, the Commissioner for Power and Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday announced the imminent launch of the EU-funded “Solar for Health” project. With a total funding of €2.6 million—70 per cent from the EU and 30 per cent from the state government—the project will install a cumulative 500-kilowatt solar system with battery storage in at least nine health facilities and nearby small businesses.

“For sustainability, there may be minimal charges to maintain these facilities. Solar is good, but we must always have multiple power supply options, especially during seasons with low sunlight. Hence, the integration of battery energy storage systems,” Engr. Monday explained.

Abia Bans Tyre-Burning For Meat Processing, Adopts Biogas is first published on The Whistler Newspaper