Lagos State Government Seals Cemetery Construction Site Amid Resident Protests
The Lagos State Government has taken swift action to halt the construction of a proposed cemetery in a residential area of Surulere, following protests from local residents. The community, known as Natufe/Animashaun, had raised concerns over the potential environmental and health impacts of the cemetery, which was slated for a site near homes, a church, and a school.
Residents, who staged a peaceful demonstration despite heavy rainfall, warned that the cemetery would contaminate their borehole water and pose a risk to public health. They accused the developer, Olumide Amure, of disregarding their earlier objections and resuming construction without adequate consideration for residents’ safety. The protesters carried placards with messages such as “No Cemetery in Our Community” and gathered at the site, which is a large expanse of land bordered by residential properties.
In response to the protests, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, announced that the government had sealed the construction site and would not allow the project to proceed. “The burial ground site has been sealed, and no such project will be developed there. The people need not worry,” Omotoso stated.
Community leaders revealed that this was not the first attempt by the developer to establish a cemetery in the area. According to Mrs. Omolabake Braimoh, Chairperson of the Natufe/Animashaun Community Development Association, residents had previously resisted a similar proposal two years ago. “The developer tried it before, and we opposed it. Now he has resumed work, building day and night. We are not using pipe-borne water; our boreholes are our only source, and this project will contaminate it,” she explained.
The community has written petitions to the relevant authorities, including the Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Area, and plans to send additional letters to state agencies to ensure the project remains halted. A former CDA chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Olaniyan, warned that constructing a cemetery in the densely populated residential area would pose serious health risks, including groundwater pollution.
Government officials confirmed that the site would remain sealed pending further investigation, reiterating that no cemetery would be allowed within the residential zone. The developer, Olumide Amure, had not responded to requests for comment at the time of filing this report. The government’s decision to seal the site highlights the importance of considering community concerns and prioritizing public health and safety in development projects.