The Lagos State Government don seal one building site for Bode Thomas area of Surulere afta residents raise alarm say one developer wan turn the land to cemetery for inside residential area.

 

Despite heavy rainfall, people wey live for Natufe/Animashaun community come out on Saturday carry placards do peaceful protest. Dem shout say the plan to build cemetery go cause health wahala and environmental danger for the neighbourhood.

 

Some placards wey dem carry read: “No Cemetery in Our Community” and “Protect Our Health.” The residents talk say one developer wey dem identify as Olumide Amure start construction again even though dem don already raise objection before.

 

The land wey dem wan turn to burial ground dey close to houses, one church, and one school, and residents talk say the place don dey under work for some weeks now before government finally intervene.

 

The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, talk say the government don act fast to stop the plan.

 

“The burial ground site don seal and no such project go happen there. Make the people no worry,” Omotoso yarn.

 

Community leaders wey talk to press people thank government say dem intervene on time.

 

Madam Omolabake Braimoh, wey be Chairlady of the Natufe/Animashaun Community Development Association (CDA), say:

 

“Na the second time this developer dey try this thing. Two years ago we chase am. Now he don come back dey work day and night. We even hear say he wan divide am – one for adults, another one for children.”

 

She add say the community dey use borehole water, and if cemetery land enter the place, e go pollute the water wey people dey drink.

 

Dem don already write petition to Coker-Aguda Local Council and dem go still carry the matter go state agencies make dem block the plan permanently.

 

Mr. Olanrewaju Olaniyan, wey be former CDA chairman, support the talk:

 

“When I still dey lead, na this same man wey we stop after we carry the matter go state level. We get documents wey show say dem stop am before. I no believe say Governor Sanwo-Olu go gree for this kind project.”

 

He warn say if dem allow cemetery there, na danger for everybody because groundwater go spoil once dem start to bury bodies.

 

“This one no be development, na disaster. We no go allow am.”

 

When press people try reach the developer, Mr. Amure, he no gree talk and never reply message up till now.

 

Lagos officials don confirm say the place go remain sealed until further notice, and dem talk say cemetery no go ever happen for residential zone under their watch.