Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has approved funds to support the release of corpses abandoned at the Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre, enabling families to retrieve the remains of their loved ones.
The initiative was announced following the minister’s personal experience with the facility, where the body of his late mother is currently kept.
The gesture was described as a move aimed at assisting families who have been unable to collect the remains of deceased relatives due to outstanding mortuary bills.
According to information provided, the funding approval is intended to facilitate the immediate release of corpses that have remained unclaimed or abandoned at the medical centre.
Many families reportedly left the remains of their relatives in the facility because they could not afford the required payments for mortuary services.
The project commenced on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, and is expected to continue until March 20, 2026, the date scheduled for the removal of Nnaji’s mother’s remains from the facility.
Families seeking to benefit from the initiative were advised to visit the mortuary section of the hospital for verification and processing.
The arrangement is designed to allow eligible families to reclaim the bodies of their deceased relatives without being hindered by the outstanding fees that previously prevented their release.
Residents and observers in the state have commended the initiative, describing it as a humanitarian gesture that could bring relief to families struggling with the financial burden associated with mortuary services.
