Anambra govt bans public display of coffin, embalming for over two months

The Anambra State Government has issued a two-month ban on the public display of caskets throughout the state, as well as the depositing of bodies in mortuaries or other locations.

The ban stems from a law passed by the State House of Assembly to regulate burials and funerals in the state.

The Guardian quoted Governor Charles Soludo as saying, “The Anambra Burial Law is a very progressive law to remove the burden and pressure on the poor as well as liberate women from oppressive practices during burials.”

“We celebrate ‘befitting living’ and only a decent funeral.”

The law mandated that all mortuary attendants are to report to the Ministry of Health any corpse which has stayed in their mortuary for more than one month from the date it was deposited.

The state government further warned that violation of the provisions of the law attracts a fine of N100,000, six months imprisonment or both.

The law also provides that anyone found guilty of public display of caskets for fabrication and sale will pay a fine of N50,000, and could be liable to one month imprisonment or both.

It further stipulated that all burial and funeral ceremonies of indigenous deceased persons in the state shall be registered with the town union of the indigenous deceased person and that the registration fee for each burial and funeral ceremony shall be N1,500.

The state government also warned against the blocking of roads and streets during burial ceremonies.

It said that road blocking can only be done with the permission of the appropriate local government authority.