The Oyo State Government has announced a seven-day ultimatum for relatives and next of kin of unclaimed bodies deposited in public hospital mortuaries across the state to come forward for identification and collection, or risk having the remains included in a planned mass burial exercise.
The directive was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi.
According to the commissioner, the decision became necessary following a growing number of unclaimed corpses occupying mortuary facilities in government-owned hospitals, creating severe congestion and limiting available storage space.
Ajetunmobi explained that many of the bodies were brought to the facilities by security and emergency agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigerian Correctional Service, and other relevant authorities.
She said, “The state government has observed a significant increase in the number of unclaimed corpses in public hospital mortuaries. Over time, these bodies have remained unidentified or unclaimed, leading to overcrowding in several facilities, many of which have reached their storage capacity.”
The commissioner urged members of the public, especially those with missing relatives, to visit government hospital mortuaries across the state to check for possible identification and claim of the bodies.
“Individuals who have relatives or loved ones that have been missing are encouraged to visit the affected mortuaries for identification and possible collection of the remains before the expiration of the notice,” she stated.
Ajetunmobi disclosed that arrangements had been concluded for the mass burial of all unclaimed corpses after the expiration of the seven-day notice.
She noted that the grace period was intended to give families and concerned persons a final opportunity to identify and claim the bodies before the burial exercise takes place.
The commissioner reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining proper public health standards and ensuring effective management of healthcare facilities across Oyo State.
“This measure is part of efforts to sustain efficient healthcare services and ensure that public health facilities continue to function effectively,” she added.
