The water used for cleaning procedures and meat processing in the abattoir must meet drinking water standards. It must be free
of chemical substances or microorganisms in amounts that could cause hazards to health. The bacteriological status of water
supply to the Bodija Municipal Abattoir, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, was evaluated. Water samples from different sources within
and around the abattoir were collected and examined. Average coliform count per 100 ml and confirmatory Escherichia coli
counts per 100ml respectively were determined using the multiple tube method. The surface tank had the highest mean coliform
count of 173.6 ± 10.9 per 100 ml, while the borehole had the lowest mean count of 17.0 ± 8.1 coliform per 100 ml. The
confirmatory Escherichia coliform count per 100 ml was highest for wells (20.8 ± 18.5) and lowest for borehole (1.0 ± 0.07).
A significantly higher number of the samples(p<0.05) 68% had a range of 161 to 200 coliform counts per 100 ml while 90%
of the total samples had E. coli count per100 ml within the range of 1 to 40 count per 100 ml. Pathogenic bacteria isolates
obtained from this study include Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus spp. This suggests that
the bacteriological status of water used at the Bodija municipal abattoir was below the recommended standard of WHO ( E. coli
< than 1) thus posing health and food safety risks on the public that depend on the meat from the abattoir. It is hereby
recommended that the government should address the issue of provision of adequate and safe water for the activities and facilities
for water treatment should also be provided in all the abattoirs in Nigeria in order to safe guard the health of the populace.