Residents of Natufe Estate and surrounding communities in the Bode Thomas area of Surulere, Lagos, took to the streets on Saturday to protest the construction of a cemetery in their neighbourhood, citing environmental, health, and safety concerns.
Despite heavy rains, protesters gathered at the construction site located off Babs Animashaun Road, near the Bode Thomas traffic light. The site is bordered by homes, schools, and religious institutions, raising fears among residents about the implications of a cemetery in such a densely populated residential zone.
Chanting “No to cemetery!” and carrying placards, the demonstrators demanded an immediate halt to the development.
Chairperson of the Natufe/Animashaun Community Development Association (CDA), Alhaja Omolabake Aminat Braimoh, said the community had previously rejected a similar project by the same developer over two years ago. According to her, construction resumed quietly during the recent Eid holiday.
“We heard that he plans to build not just an adult cemetery here but another for children about three blocks away,” she said. “This is a residential area. We rely on borehole water, and burying bodies here will pollute our land and water. It is simply unacceptable.”
Braimoh stated that the CDA has formally written to the Chairman of the Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Area (LCDA), urging him to intervene and stop the work. She confirmed that more letters would be sent to state agencies to demand enforcement action.
“We are law-abiding citizens. That is why we are using legal and administrative channels to press our case,” she said. “Our letters contain detailed objections and a reminder that this same project was previously rejected.”
Former CDA Chairman, Mr. Olarenwaju Olaniyan, echoed similar concerns, recalling that the community had fought and halted the cemetery plan during his tenure.
“We stopped this project at both local and state levels before,” Olaniyan said. “We have the records. Now, he’s back, and we’ve heard he may have obtained some form of approval. But I doubt Governor Sanwo-Olu would sanction this.”
Olaniyan said the health risk posed by the cemetery cannot be overstated. “We rely on boreholes for water. Burial grounds will contaminate that and endanger all of us,” he warned. “We have elderly residents here, some over 80 years old. This project is a threat to their health and our community’s wellbeing.”
He appealed to the developer, Mr. Olumide Amure, to reconsider. “You don’t live here. You bought this land less than three years ago. Why turn it into a cemetery in a thriving, peaceful community?” he asked.
According to Olaniyan, the community submitted at least 11 petitions during the first attempt to build the cemetery and plans to follow the same route again.
The councillor representing Natufe/Animashaun Ward confirmed receiving complaints from the CDA and said he was unaware of any formal approval for the project.
“A cemetery is not appropriate for this location,” he said. “As their representative, I will ensure the complaint reaches the relevant authorities.”
When contacted on Saturday, developer Olumide Amure declined to provide immediate comment, requesting time to issue a detailed response. As of 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, he had yet to respond, and a follow-up message sent to his mobile phone went unanswered.
The Lagos State Government and relevant regulatory bodies have yet to issue a statement on the matter. Meanwhile, residents vow to continue peaceful resistance until the construction is permanently halted.