Ever since Goveror Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State assented to the Cremation Bill on June 10, opinions are divided on the suitability and desirability of the law. Some cynics scream that cremation of bodies negates traditional African beliefs and the fundamental principles of all the major religions in the country.
Nevertheless, the state’s Attorney-General, Mr Adeola Ipaye, argued that cremation, as stated in the new law, was voluntary. He stressed that a person might signify interest to be cremated after his or her death, adding that a member of the deceased’s family, who was 18 years and above, could also decide to have the body cremated. The law, however, empowers the state government to cremate unclaimed bodies in its mortuaries after a period of time. Nonetheless, the law stipulates that cremation can only be done in the crematorium provided by the state or by licensed funeral homes.
At the ceremony which marked the signing of the bill into law, the bill’s sponsor, Mr Suuru Avoseh, the Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, had many questions, arising from the controversies surrounding the law, to answer. However, Dr Anthony Omolola, the National President of the General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, said that the Cremation Act was in order, adding that cremation was a globally acceptable practice.
Also speaking, Dr Francis Faduyile, the Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), lauded the governor for signing the bill, saying that the action signified that the state was willing to adopt beneficial global practices. On the other hand, several religious leaders and lawmakers, who witnessed the signing ceremony, kicked against the law on the grounds that it was anti-religious and anti-cultural. Alhaji Moyashau Abolaji, an Islamic scholar, vehemently rejected the approval of cremation of bodies, saying that the innovation was not supported by Islam.
Days after the emergence of the cremation law, mixed reactions have continued to trail the law permitting the cremation of corpses. A cleric, Pastor Femi Adejuyigbe, said: “I cannot imagine being burnt in an oven after my demise; we were meant to go six feet below, period.’’ Sharing similar sentiments, Mr Segun Ibironke, an accountant, said that the cremation of bodies was against the culture of most Nigerians. Ibironke suggested that more lands should be allocated for the construction of more cemeteries in low density areas across the state, while the families of non-indigenes should be instructed to take the bodies of their kin to their hometowns for burial.
Mrs Joy Ihimodu, a school teacher, was, however, indifferent to the notion of cremation, insisting that since cremation was not compulsory under the law, the residents could choose what to do with the bodies of their loved ones. All the same, Mr Yinusa Wusu, a vault attendant, believed that governor could have been compelled to sign the cremation bill into law because of the rising cases of theft of bodies from cemeteries.
Wusu noted that most of the cemeteries in the urban areas of the state did not have enough space, adding that most of the bodies buried therein were also not interred deep enough. “During the rainy season, some skeletal parts of buried corpses come to the surface and float; posing health hazards to the people living in the neighbouhood,’’ he added.
Mr Ifakayode Ahmed, an Ifa (a Yoruba deity) worshipper, said that even though cremation had been legalised in Lagos State, the people still had an option of choice. He particularly advised religious leaders not to be unduly sentimental about the new law. “I have studied the Holy Book of Christians and my mother is a Muslim; I don’t think it is written anywhere that the dead must be buried this way or that way. “What we know is that we will return to dust and your soul will go to back to God; it does not matter how your body decays,’’ Ahmed said.
All the same, Mr Tunji Okusanya, a funeral undertaker, stressed that cremation had been the preferred option of burial for some Nigerians and foreigners living in the country even before now. He said that the cremation law would not reduce the demand for caskets and other burial accessories in any way. Okusanya, however, conceded that due to some cultural and religious factors, it could take about a century or more for cremation to be widely accepted in the country. “Cremation is accepted by some families, though not many, because of its benefits. It does not prevent the family from performing the usual funeral rites on the body, as the corpse could still be taken to church and viewed before cremation. “Cremation, as many people think, is not done haphazardly; it is done in a crematorium, where a special oven-like machine powered with gas is pre-heated and the dead body is placed in it to burn in the presence of family members. “For about two hours, the body burns neatly and the ashes are presented to a representative of the family immediately; it does not cause any pollution to the environment,’’ he said.
Okusanya said that some Nigerian families, having adopted the lifestyles of Indians and some foreigners, preferred cremating their dead family members because the ashes could be kept inside jewellery boxes, photo frames, and bronze containers for as long as they wished. He, however, frowned at the section of the law which empowered the state government to cremate unclaimed bodies after a period of time. According to him, no dead should be termed unclaimed because of the state of insecurity in the country where murder, kidnapping and loss of persons are rife. “Cremating so called `unclaimed’ bodies would only complicate issues surrounding many murder and kidnap cases, as it would not give ample room for further investigations and legal action,’’ he added.
Mr Dare Peters, the Sales Manager of Omega Funeral Homes, Lagos, said that legalising cremation would go a long way in reducing environmental hazards, as existing burial vaults would be decongested. He said that people might begin to freely consider the cremation option in order to save the cost of securing a vault space and other expenses needed for elaborate burial. He, however, underscored the need to review the aspect of the law which authorised the cremation of unclaimed bodies by the state government, adding that the review should be done in concert with law enforcement agencies, as it had the potential of complicating security issues.
Mr Murtala Busari, a Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners, nonetheless, said that it was not a wise decision to use the available land in city suburbs across the state to build cemeteries. “While we are trying to develop the small towns for agricultural, housing and industrial projects, some people are now suggesting that the government should use them for cemeteries. “The law has not enforced cremation on anyone; instead, it will promote liberty and freedom of choice, as Lagos is a land of many cultures, including foreigners who cremate their dead,’’ he said.
Mrs Bisi Bright, the Country Representative of Live Well Initiative, said that in addition to legalising cremation, the state government should also strive to advise residents against burying their dead in their homes. She said that the burial of bodies in residential areas would be inimical to the people’s health, as it could provoke outbreak of epidemics and diseases. Bright said with the law now in place, many residents would embrace cremation, while the tendency for people to bury their dead within the precincts of their homes would considerably reduce.
http://peoplesdailyng.com/cremation-act-in-lagos-matters-arising/
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