Protest trails siting of infectious disease cemetery in Galadimawa

Some Abuja residents have expressed reservations over the planned construction of an infectious disease cemetery in Galadimawa, an Abuja suburb. The planned cemetery is to be sited a few metres from Galadimawa roundabout, opposite some private residential estates on the road that leads to the Games Village. Residents of some estates in the area, including […]

Some Abuja residents have expressed reservations over the planned construction of an infectious disease cemetery in Galadimawa, an Abuja suburb.

The planned cemetery is to be sited a few metres from Galadimawa roundabout, opposite some private residential estates on the road that leads to the Games Village.

Residents of some estates in the area, including Sun City, AMMSCO and Golden Spring on Monday protested the decision of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to site the cemetery in the area, saying that people’s lives could be threatened if the government failed to rescind its decision.

One of the protesters and representative of Sun City Estate, Gbenga Ambali, said the decision to site an infectious diseases cemetery close to residential areas could be harmful to the people, adding that it could create future problems for them since a lot is not known about COVID-19.

“Most of us in this neighbourhood, our source of water is through the borehole, so if we have an infectious diseases cemetery around us we are not safe.

“The issue of COVID-19 that we are all facing right now, nobody knows the full details of this disease. So bringing it close to us would be creating additional problems in the future,” he told journalists during the protest.

Also, one Luka, a worker with one of the block industries to be affected by the construction said the land surrounding the cemetery has been allocated for residential estates. He said the location is not suitable for a cemetery of any nature because there are an event centre, schools, and several buildings a few kilometres to the proposed cemetery.

“This entire place is meant for an estate and it is along the road. Nobody will rent a house here if this place is a burial ground. Even me, I go run because if they carry dead body wey get virus come bury here, that means say me too go carry the virus be that,” he said in Pidgin English. He continued, “It is better make they go find big bush go bury them there, or make they go find firewood gather make they burn the dead body.”

He said he preferred to lose his job at the block industry to contracting the disease, adding that several estate developers and businesses would find it difficult to do business in the area if the government sited a cemetery there.

A florist in the area, Ezekiel, said construction work on the site could have begun but for some indigenous people that insisted on compensation before the government could take over the land.

He said following the failure of the government to pay them, some equipment already moved to the site were removed on Monday. He said the contractor has not been seen since then.

He also expressed fear that the location of the cemetery could harm him and his business. “There are several people that ply this road, including students, so this place is not good for the cemetery,” he said.

Meanwhile, Aso Chronicle observed that more than seven residents were against the location of the cemetery in the area because of their understanding of the virus’ mode of transmission which they believe is airborne.

Ade Ogunniyi, a plumber who said he relaxed with friends at Galadimawa Roundabout, expressed fear that many  people, especially drivers and residents who usually stayed at the roundabout could contract the disease.

He said siting the cemetery in the area was not in the interest of the public adding that he saw people whom he described as contractors and surveyors on the site more than three times last week.

“It is not proper for a burial ground to be sited here. We have seen people more than three times on the land and last week they came with their equipment and we heard that the construction was delayed because of the payment to the indigenes,” he said.

The Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Baba Shehu Lawan, said the government met with relevant stakeholders on Monday.

“The development of cemeteries is under the FCDA, AEPB only manages them,” he said.

He said coronavirus victims are now being buried at Gudu cemetery. “NCDC moves victims to Gudu cemetery because they are the only organisation allowed to bury the victims.”