Anambra State Bans Goats, Cows as Condolence Gifts, Restricts Burials to Saturdays

The Anambra State Government has introduced a sweeping new burial law that bans the presentation of cows, goats, and other expensive items as condolence gifts. The legislation, enacted by the Anambra State House of Assembly, aims to curb extravagant funeral practices that have long placed heavy financial pressure on bereaved families.

Under the new regulations, condolence gifts are strictly limited. The law states, “No person shall give to the deceased person’s family, as a condolence gift, any item exceeding money, one jar of palm wine, one carton of beer, and one crate of soft drink”. This provision effectively outlaws the common practice of donating livestock, bags of rice, and other costly items during funeral visits.

Offenders who violate the gift ban or other provisions face a fine of ₦100,000, six months’ imprisonment, or both. The government described the move as a major step toward reducing financial exploitation and easing the burden on mourning families.

The law also imposes strict time limits on funeral ceremonies. All burials are now restricted to Saturdays only, with midweek burials from Monday to Friday completely prohibited. Additionally, every burial ceremony must be completed within a single day, while wake-keep ceremonies have been abolished entirely.

Vigil masses, services of songs, and related religious activities must end by 9:00 p.m. The law explicitly bans the provision of food, drinks, live bands, or cultural entertainment during such events. Food and drinks for guests are now optional, and the sharing of souvenirs at funerals is prohibited.

The display of billboards, banners, and posters featuring deceased persons is forbidden across the state. Only directional signs leading to burial venues are permitted, and these cannot be displayed earlier than seven days before the burial date. Public display of caskets for advertisement or sale is also barred, and dancing with caskets is prohibited.

The law further restricts undertakers to a maximum of six persons during funeral activities. Second funeral rites are prohibited except in legacy-related cases. The wearing of uniform attire, popularly known as ‘aso ebi’, is limited to immediate family members, church groups, umunna, umu ada, and iyom di where applicable.

Traditional youth practices deemed disruptive have been outlawed. These include public demonstrations with photographs of deceased persons, destruction of crops or household property, and unauthorized use of firearms during burials. The law also warns against blocking roads and streets during burial ceremonies.

Corpses are not to remain in mortuaries beyond two months from the date of death. Any corpse kept longer risks being classified as a “rejected corpse” and may be buried in government-designated burial grounds to be established in every community. The government has announced plans to begin rigorous enforcement of this provision.

To ensure compliance, the state will establish Monitoring and Implementation Committees in various communities. These committees will oversee the registration of deaths, approve burial ceremonies, and monitor adherence to the law. Governor Chukwuma Soludo has vowed tougher enforcement, stating that effective governance requires “the courage to implement change”.