The Anambra State Government has implemented a ban on the public display of caskets for manufacturing and sale in the state, as part of a law passed by the state House of Assembly on Thursday to regulate burial and funeral activities.
According to the new law, mortuary attendants are required to report to the Ministry of Health about any corpse that has remained in their care for more than one month from the date of deposit. The law also imposes penalties on individuals who violate these provisions, with fines of N100,000, a six-month imprisonment, or both.
Additionally, the legislation mandates that all burial and funeral ceremonies for indigenous deceased individuals in the state must be registered with the town union of the deceased. It also cautions against the blocking of roads and streets during burial ceremonies, specifying that such actions can only be taken with permission from the relevant Local Government Authority.
In response to the new law, Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, expressed his appreciation to the state House of Assembly for the legislation. He lauded the law as a progressive step to alleviate the financial burden on the poor and liberate women from oppressive practices during burial ceremonies, emphasizing the promotion of “befitting living” and advocating for dignified funerals.