Fuming residents of Natufe Estate and environs in Lagos State on Saturday took to the streets, protesting against the construction of a cemetery within their community, stressing that it will pollute their water, causing health hazards.
Natufe is located off Babs Animashaun Road in the Bode Thomas area of Surulere, mainland Lagos.
The community members 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.
A former Community Development Association (CDA) Chairman, Mr Olarenwaju Olaniyan, said: “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.”
The Chairperson, Natufe/Animashaun Community Development Association (CDA), Alhaja Omolabake Aminat Braimoh, said: “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 the 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 it. 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 a borehole, which the cemetery will pollute.”
Asked what steps were taken by the CDA aside from the protest, she 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 to stop the developer.
She added, “We do not want to take the law into our hands, and that is why we are following the due process.
“In the letter, we detailed our displeasure about the illegal construction of the 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 immediately stop work on the site until the intention and purpose of the construction is established.”
Olaniyan confirmed that the developer, Olumide Amure, tried the same thing during his tenure and was brought to a standstill.
“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 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 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 business that will develop the community and not one that will destroy us. The community says no to turning this place into a 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?” Olaniyan queried.
According to him, 11 petitions were sent to relevant agencies and offices the first time he 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 they were not aware of any approval given 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.
Contacted for a reaction on Saturday, the developer told our reporter that he would revert, pleading for time to provide a detailed response.
He asked when the reporter intended to go to press and was told his reaction was needed and that the story would stand down till Sunday afternoon to await his comments.
However, at the time of filing this report (3 pm) on Sunday, Mr. Amure had not yet sent his response and a reminder message to his phone number was not replied to.
