The Lagos State Government has sealed a construction site meant for a proposed cemetery in Bode Thomas, Surulere, after residents of the Natufe/Animashaun community protested against the project, citing environmental and health risks.
Residents staged a peaceful protest on Saturday despite the heavy rain, carrying placards that read “No Cemetery in Our Community.” They warned that the cemetery could contaminate their borehole water and pose serious public health dangers.
The protesters accused the developer, identified as Olumide Amure, of ignoring their earlier objections and resuming construction without proper approval or consideration for residents’ safety.
Reacting to the development, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, confirmed that the government had sealed the site and assured residents that the project would not continue.
“The burial ground site has been sealed, and no such project will be developed there. The people need not worry,” Omotoso said in a statement on Saturday.
Community leaders said this was not the first time the developer had made such an attempt. Mrs Omolabake Braimoh, Chairperson of the Natufe/Animashaun Community Development Association, said residents had opposed a similar move two years ago.
“The developer tried it before, and we stopped him. Now he’s back, working day and night. We heard he wants to create two cemeteries — one for adults and one for children. We depend on borehole water, and this will contaminate it,” she said.
A former CDA chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Olaniyan, confirmed that the community had previously petitioned the government, which led to the stoppage of the same project in the past.
“During my tenure, we took the matter from the local government to the state level, and it was stopped. I don’t believe Governor Sanwo-Olu would approve such a project,” he said.
He warned that allowing a cemetery in a residential area would threaten public health.
“Once burials begin, groundwater will be polluted, and everyone will be affected. This is not development; it’s a health hazard,” Olaniyan said.
