Residents demonstrate against construction of cemetery in Lagos community, developer keeps mum

Many residents of a Bode Thomas community in Lagos State on Saturday defied the heavy rains to protest against the alleged planned construction of a cemetery in the area.

The protesters, mainly from Natufe Estate and its environs in Lagos Stare expressed anxiety that the move could spell doom for the community.

Natufe is located off Babs Animashaun Road in the Bode Thomas area of Surulere, mainland Lagos.

The protesters marched to the construction site, a large expanse bordered by residential buildings, a school, a church and just a few meters away from the Traffic Light at Bode Thomas junction.

Chanting “no cemetery” and other slogans to register their displeasure, the protesters waved placards emphasising their disapproval of the proposed burial ground in the neighbourhood.

The Chairperson, Natufe/Animashaun Community Development Association (CDA), Alhaja Omolabake Aminat Braimoh, said the residents strongly opposed the construction of a cemetery in the neighbourhood.

“This man tried it over two years ago and we opposed it. Suddenly, we noticed he has started construction again and he is working day and night to achieve his purpose. So, we are out here again saying No because a cemetery is not good here.

“We heard he wants to build an adult cemetery here and one for children about three blocks away. We do not want them.

“Look around you, this is a residential neighbourhood. We have children and elderly people here. We have schools, churches and estates here too.

“Locating a cemetery will pollute our land. We are not using pipe-borne water. Our source of water is borehole which cemetery will pollute.”

The chairperson said letters had been written and sent to the Chairman, Coker-Aguda LCDA, adding that more letters would be sent to relevant agencies of government agencies to stop the developer.

“We do not want to take the law into our own hands; and that is why we are following the due process.

“In the letter, we detailed our displeasure about the illegal construction of cemetery and reminded the chairman that we had objected same in the past.

“They commenced work here during the EID holiday and have completely disregarded the community’s disapproval. We urged the chairman to wade into the issue and order the developer to immediate stop work on the site until the intention and purpose of the construction is established,” she added.

Also speaking, a former CDA chairman, Olarenwaju Olaniyan, confirmed that the developer, Olumide Amure tried the same thing during his tenure and was fought to a standstill.

He said, “Olumide Amure knows me very well. The first time he started this some years ago, we fought it from the local government to the state level. We have all the documents with us. He was stopped by the government.

“But I heard now that he has permission. I am not speaking about that permission because I trust that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will never give such a permission. The developer should know the consequences of his actions and desist from such a wicked act.

“We will not allow him to pollute our land. We won’t allow him to kill us all because what he is trying to do is bring an epidemic for those of us living here.

“We do not have good water here. We are surviving on boreholes and the moment you start burying people here, you will pollute our ground and water. You will kill us all. We won’t allow that.

“We have stayed here for over 50 years. We have people who are 80 years and above among us. When do you want to kill us? Did we offend you? Mr. Olumide Amure, we do not want to fight you, we are appealing to you to do a business that will develop the community and not one that will destroy us. The community says no to turning this place to burial ground.

“You do not even live in this neighbourhood. You bought this land less than three years ago and all you can think of is to put a cemetery here?”

According to him, 11 petitions were sent to relevant agencies and offices the first time Amure came up with his cemetery plans, adding that the community would do the same this time around.

The Councillor representing Natufe/Animashaun Ward at the Local Government said he was not aware of any approval to the developer to site a cemetery there.

He said he received a complaint from the CDA that the developer was building a burial ground in a residential area.

“A cemetery is not suitable in such a place. They have complained that they don’t want it and as their representative at the local government, I will take their complaint forward to the relevant authorities,” he said.

When contacted, the developer said he would get back to our reporter with a detailed response.

However, Amure has yet to send his response.