Neglected Third Estate: The Dilemma of Public Cemeteries in Osogbo Nigeria

As with other public facilities, cemeteries must be maintained on a regular basis to sustain their original state and to guarantee that they continue to fulfill their intended purpose. However, urban administration in Nigeria tends to place a low premium on burial spaces, as evidenced by the dilapidated physical conditions of public cemeteries. The purpose of this research is to assess the physical and environmental aspects, as well as management procedures, of two public cemeteries in Osogbo. Primary and secondary sources of data were used in this study: cemeteries and their surrounds were visited, and data on cemetery administration were received directly from the municipal officials. The questionnaire completed by (10) cemetery staffs was examined using the Relative Important Index (RII). The findings indicate that the two cemeteries are in a neglected state; are constrained by a shortage of experienced employees, a lack of contemporary equipment and management procedures; and are virtually always overgrown, isolating them from the urban environment. Additionally, the most significant obstacles impeding good preservation practices are a lack of a maintenance culture, a lack of current equipment, poor usage of the cemetery, a shortage of experienced staff, and sabotage by third parties. The recommendations include a complete makeover of these facilities and the establishment of a modern management team tasked with the objective of developing environmentally friendly, physically appealing, and motorable cemetery.