The Anambra State Government has directed all mortuary owners and operators across the state to register their facilities or renew expired licences before June 5, warning that enforcement actions will begin immediately after the deadline.
The directive, issued through the State Ministry of Health, forms part of the healthcare reform agenda of Governor Chukwuma Soludo aimed at improving regulatory oversight and public health standards across Anambra State.
According to the government, all unregistered mortuaries and facilities with expired licences are expected to complete their registration and renewal processes before the deadline. The state also clarified that hospitals providing mortuary services must register their mortuary units separately, regardless of their hospital registration status.
Authorities said the exercise is intended to update the state’s database of mortuary facilities, strengthen monitoring mechanisms, ensure compliance with public health regulations, and address unlawful practices associated with the handling of corpses.
The government warned that inspection and enforcement operations will commence statewide after June 5, with sanctions to be imposed on defaulters and illegally operating facilities in accordance with existing laws.
The directive has generated reactions among residents, with some describing it as a necessary step toward sanitising the health sector, while others have called on the government to ensure operators are adequately informed before enforcement begins.
The latest move comes as the Soludo administration continues efforts to strengthen regulation within the state’s healthcare system and improve compliance with established public health standards.
