The Lagos State Government has closed down a construction site designated for a proposed cemetery in a residential neighborhood in Bode Thomas, Surulere, following protests by residents of the Natufe/Animashaun community who cited major environmental and health concerns.
Despite heavy rain on Saturday morning, residents held a peaceful demonstration, warning that placing a cemetery in their area would contaminate their borehole water supply and pose a significant threat to public health. The protesters, holding signs that read “No Cemetery in Our Community,” gathered at the site—a large piece of land near homes, a church, and a school—and accused the developer, identified as Olumide Amure, of ignoring their previous objections and restarting construction without considering their safety.
In response, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, assured residents that the government had taken definitive action to stop the project. Omotoso stated on Saturday that the site had been sealed and that no cemetery project would be allowed there, telling the community not to worry.
Community leaders noted this was not the first attempt to build a burial ground in the area. Mrs. Omolabake Braimoh, Chairperson of the Natufe/Animashaun Community Development Association (CDA), recalled that residents successfully opposed a similar move two years ago. She expressed concern that the developer had resumed work, reportedly building day and night, with rumors of plans for two cemeteries (one for adults and one for children nearby). She emphasized that since residents rely solely on boreholes, the project would contaminate their water supply. The CDA has since submitted petitions to the Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and plans to send more letters to relevant state agencies to ensure the project remains permanently halted.
Mr. Olanrewaju Olaniyan, a former CDA chairman, confirmed that during his tenure, the same developer was stopped after the community escalated the issue to the state level and that he possesses all the relevant documentation. He expressed confidence that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu would not approve such a project and warned that a cemetery in a densely populated residential area presents a serious health disaster by polluting the groundwater.
The developer, Mr. Amure, stated he would provide a response later but had not done so at the time of the report. Meanwhile, government officials confirmed the site will remain sealed pending further investigation, reiterating that no cemetery will be permitted within the residential zone.
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