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By Chibuzor Ogode

The Delta State Government through the the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DSCTDA) has facilitated and introduced a private cemetery called the Volts and Gardens in the capital city, Asaba.

The ground breaking ceremony which took place on Friday, February 28, 2025 in Asaba was graced by the Governor of Delta State Rt Hon Sheriff Oberovwori, who was represented by his Chief of staff, Prince Johnson Ejiro.

The ceremony was also graced by key government officials including the Director General of DSCTDA, Chief Patrick Ukah, the Government House Commissioner for special duties , Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza and the chairman, Oshimili South LGA, Obi Kelvin Ezenyii.

Speaking at the commissioning of the 2000-grave capacity cemetery built by Vaults and Gardens Limited, Governor Oborevwori called for a more dignifying way of burying the dead as against the outdated age-long practice of doing so in clustered residential areas

The Governor noted that cemeteries were no longer places reserved only for burials, but also served as historical and cultural resources, as well as places of solace and reflection for the living.

He maintained that burying loved ones besides their houses was no longer sustainable due to growth in human population, just as it defaced the environment, led to water pollution and reduced the monetary value of property.

Oborevwori pointed out that it was more secure to bury in cemeteries, where the bodies could be better preserved for posterity, leaving an enduring legacy of the dead and making their success stories continually told.

He commended Vaults and Gardens Limited for investing in the cemetery and urged members of the public to take advantage of its importance to the community to give their loved ones befitting burials.

In his remarks, the Director General of DSCTDA, Chief Patrick Ukah, said the private sector-driven cemetery was the first of its kind in the capital territory.

He explained that although the government had no hand in the cemetery, its establishment was facilitated by the conducive environment made possible by Governor Oborevwori’s MORE AGENDA.

Ukah spoke on the implications of burying the dead in clustered areas, saying that with the cemetery there would be an improvement in the environment and public health.

For his part, the Chairman of Oshimili South Local Government Council, Dr Obi Kelvin Ezenyili, described the floating of the cemetery in Asaba as a significant development and pledged the support of the Council for the initiative.

Also speaking, the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Asagba Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON, represented by the Secretary, Asagba-in-Council, Ogbueshi Patrick Ndili, commended the investor for addressing one issue that had been of great concern to him, stressing that burying the dead in residential areas constituted serious health hazards and was no longer sustainable.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Group Managing Director of Vaults and Gardens Limited, Mr. Ade Ogundeyin, traced the history of cemetery in Nigeria to Ikoyi, Lagos, where he said investing in vaults had become a lucrative business.

He commended the Delta State Government for creating the enabling environment for the cemetery to become a reality and urged Deltans and other residents of the state to utilize the facility to befittingly bury their dead and invest in vault businesses