The Lagos State Government has sealed a construction site in Bode Thomas, Surulere, that was earmarked for a proposed cemetery following protests by residents of the Natufe/Animashaun community over environmental and health concerns.
Residents had staged a peaceful demonstration on Saturday morning despite heavy rainfall, warning that the establishment of a cemetery in their neighbourhood could contaminate their borehole water and pose serious public health risks.
The protesters, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “No Cemetery in Our Community,” gathered at the site, a large expanse of land surrounded by homes, a church, and a school.
They accused the developer, Olumide Amure, of ignoring earlier objections and resuming construction without considering residents’ safety.
“The burial ground site has been sealed, and no such project will be developed there. The people need not worry,” Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said in a statement.
Community leaders noted that this was not the first time the developer had attempted to site a burial ground in the area.
Mrs Omolabake Braimoh, Chairperson of the Natufe/Animashaun Community Development Association (CDA), recalled that residents had previously resisted a similar move two years ago.
“The developer tried it before, and we opposed it. Now he has resumed work, building day and night. We heard he wants to create two cemeteries; one for adults here and another for children nearby. We are not using pipe-borne water; our boreholes are our only source, and this project will contaminate it,” she said.
She added that the CDA had written petitions to the Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and would send additional letters to relevant state agencies to ensure the project remains halted.
Mr Olanrewaju Olaniyan, a former CDA chairman, said the community had previously petitioned government authorities, leading to the stoppage of the same developer’s earlier attempt.
“During my tenure, this same developer was stopped after we took the matter from the local government to the state level. We have all the documents. I don’t believe Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu would approve such a project,” Olaniyan stated.
He warned that constructing a cemetery within a densely populated residential area would pose serious health risks.
“Once burials begin here, the groundwater will be polluted, and that will affect everyone. This is not development, it’s an invitation to disaster. The community will resist it again,” he added.
When contacted, Mr Amure, the developer, said he would respond later, but had yet to provide a statement as of filing this report.