The Lagos State Government has given families that have corpses in Lagos State morgues two weeks ultimatum to pick them for burial.
Failure to do so, the corpses would be given mass burial by the state.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave the order on Saturday while giving an update on the Coronavirus pandemic in the state at the State House, Marina.
He lamented that the state’s mortuaries were filled and congested following the lockdown.
Sanwo-Olu instructed that though the corpses were not COVID-19 corpses, the owners should conduct the burial in line with the guidelines established for the management of COVID-19 in the country.
The governor said that the morgues were becoming congested because some corpses were not buried during the Lenten period as is practiced by some Christian faithful, coupled with the lockdown of the state which even before the end of the Lenten period.
He pointed out that funerals were on the list of activities exempted from the lockdown restrictions.
He, however, streesed that inter-state movements for burials will not be tolerated, as the state borders have been toughened to restrict those not providing essential services from entering the state.
He word: “Still on this matter of essential movement, I would like to speak concerning funerals.
“One of the outcomes of this lockdown is that many families and households have had to postpone funeral plans for loved ones who have passed away before or during this period.
“’As you might know, many Christian denominations do not carry out funerals during the Lenten Season.
“Funerals are typically kept on hold during this period and scheduled for the period immediately following the end of Lent.
”Unfortunately, this year, the COVID-19 lockdown coincided with the end of Lent, which caused many families and households to further suspend or put off funeral plans.
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“Let me make it clear at this point that these are not COVID-19 deaths.
“The mortuaries in Lagos are not full because of COVID-19 deaths.
“The total number of COVID-19 deaths in Lagos as at today (Saturday) is 20; the only reason the mortuaries are full at this time is because funerals are not being held and have not been held for most of the last two months,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu appealed to all Lagosians who have the corpses of their loved ones in the mortuaries to please go ahead and schedule these funerals.
“You can hold or attend funeral ceremonies in Lagos State as long as you comply with the requirements that we have outlined.
“The total number of persons at the funeral, including officiating religious leaders, must not exceed 20.
“Physical distancing must be maintained at the funeral ceremony; all attendees/mourners must use masks and ensure they wash their hands after the ceremony.
“There must be no receptions or parties to accompany these funerals; rest assured that as long as these directives are fully complied with, funerals will be allowed and encouraged to take place.
“If we are unable to see a decongestion of the mortuaries across the state in the next two weeks, the Lagos State Government will be compelled to carry out mass burials to achieve this.
“We do not want to be forced to do this, which is why we are asking for your cooperation in this regard,” he stated.
