Okechukwu Elis Nwaulu – Ori1, Linus Asikogu1, Obinna Ukanwa1, Ebikiemo Wokoro Kosipre2, & Abraham Inivie2 (AUTHORS)
1Department of Architecture, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria
2Department of Architecture, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria
Corresponding author: nwauluorielis@gmail.com
ABSTRACT: Abattoir facilities in Nigeria and other developing countries are characterised by persistent hygiene deficiencies, inadequate spatial planning, and operational inefficiencies that pose significant public health risks and undermine meat safety standards. This article examines architectural design strategies for enhancing hygiene standards and operational efficiency in abattoir facilities, using the proposed Ngor Okpala Meat Processing Facility in Imo State, Nigeria, as a design-based case study. Adopting a qualitative design-based research methodology, the study draws on an extensive review of international design guidelines, regulatory standards, and contemporary empirical literature to identify evidence-based architectural strategies applicable to the Nigerian rural abattoir context. Key findings reveal that the predominant hygiene challenges in conventional Nigerian abattoirs — including the absence of clean and dirty zone separation, inadequate drainage, poor ventilation, and deficient water supply — are primarily rooted in architectural planning failures rather than operational shortcomings alone. The proposed design for the Ngor Okpala Abattoir integrates six core architectural strategies: functional zone separation; unidirectional process flow; hygienic material selection; engineered drainage systems; climate-responsive ventilation and lighting; and integrated waste and effluent management. The study demonstrates that a contextually responsive, evidence-based architectural approach can substantially improve hygiene compliance and operational performance in rural meat processing facilities. Findings contribute to the body of architectural and public health evidence on the design of food processing infrastructure in developing countries, and provide a replicable design framework for similar facilities across southeastern Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.
Keywords: Abattoir design; Architectural strategies; Hygiene; Operational efficiency; Ngor-Okpala; Nigeria