The just concluded town hall meeting with the Incoming, Chief Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, and Enugu State business owners based in Lagos comes at a time when painful stories are forcing us to reflect deeply on the direction of our state.
When Chief Nwakaibie visited Enugu on January 29, 2026, to make arrangements for his mother’s remains, he reportedly met over ten families who had come to take their loved ones home for burial but were unable to do so because they could not afford the tax imposed on releasing dead bodies.
Out of compassion, he stepped in and paid on their behalf so they could lay their loved ones to rest.
This raises a disturbing question: When did Enugu get to this point where grief is compounded by financial barriers at the mortuary gate?
Burial is not a luxury. It is a deeply rooted cultural and moral obligation. When families in mourning are confronted with costs, they cannot meet just to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones, something fundamental has shifted in governance and humanity.
Policies must generate revenue, yes, but not at the expense of dignity. Not at the expense of compassion. Enugu deserves leadership that balances administration with empathy.
