Lagos State government just gave families that have corpses in Lagos State mortuaries a 14-day ultimatum to pick them for burial or they will be part of a mass burial very soon.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu revealed this recently as he spoke to newsmen at the State House, Marina, on the update of the management of COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
According to him, the state’s mortuaries are getting filled and congested after the lockdown so the owners of the bodies must act fast.
He added that even if they are not COVID-19 corpses, family members and loved ones should conduct the burial in line with the protocol established in the management of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
His words, “Still on this matter of essential movement, I would like to speak concerning funerals.
“One of the outcomes of this lockdown is that several 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, several 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 several families and households to further suspend or put off funeral plan.”
“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 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.”