No fewer than 20 graves will be relocated in Sapon and Ilugun in Ogun following the expansion and rehabilitation of major roads in the state.
The State Government started the rehabilitation of major roads in Abeokuta on Sunday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that construction workers have begun to demolish houses on the roads marked for expansion, under close supervision by Gov. Ibikunle Amosun.
A check by NAN revealed that many of the corpses, which had been buried more than 20 years ago, were located between Sapon and Ilugun areas of the metropolis.
Relatives of some of the corpses in separate interviews with NAN pleaded with the State Government to assist the families in the reburial process and rituals.
A 38-year-old business man, Kehinde Bankole, told NAN that his family would rebury at least eight copses because of the road expansion.
He pleaded that the State Government should, in addition to the compensation that would be given to affected building owners, provide some assistant to owners of the corpses too.
While lauding efforts of the State Government to modernise the state, Bankole stressed the need for adequate information and timely compensations.
“Only someone who is not in right senses will say that what the government is doing is not good.
“But beyond that, government must try and pay compensations to the affected people as early as possible.
“But timing is of importance here, people who are now homeless cannot wait for too long.
“They need to move elsewhere now and that is why the government must act fast by paying the compensation on time.
Another relative of the affected families,?Mr?Ismail Gbemisola,?claimed that his family would relocate four graves to Orile Ilugun from Sapon area due to the exercise.
He pleaded with Amosun for?financial assistance to rebury the corpses.
“The?cost of moving corpses is very expensive,’’ he said, adding that?some rituals needed to?be performed before moving a corpse to avoid serious trouble.
NAN reports that the demolition exercise began at Ibara and moved to Omida and Sapon area.
Earth moving equipment was seen pulling down structures that had been marked for demolition on the areas.
Amousn, who spoke the market women at Omida, assured them that adequate compensation would be paid to owners of buildings affected by the demolition.
“We are trying to make you and next generations to be happy. Please, note that your interest is ours too as we need your understanding and cooperation at this time.
“We shall provide alternative and make up shops for you to sell during festive season and I also want to promise you that I will send Christmas gift to you all here.
“ The new markets will be ready soon and I promise you on my honour that you people will be considered before anybody,’’ Amosun said. (NAN)