The recently concluded town hall meeting between the incoming leader, Chief Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, and Enugu State business owners based in Lagos comes at a time when troubling accounts are prompting serious reflection about the state’s direction.

When Chief Nwakaibie visited Enugu on January 29, 2026, to arrange the burial of his mother, he reportedly encountered more than ten families who had come to retrieve the remains of their loved ones but were unable to do so because they could not afford the required payment for the release of the bodies.

Moved by compassion, he reportedly paid the fees on their behalf, enabling the families to proceed with their burial plans.

The development raises a difficult question: How did Enugu reach a point where families in mourning must first overcome financial hurdles before laying their loved ones to rest?

Burial is not a privilege. It is a longstanding cultural and moral responsibility. When grieving families are unable to retrieve the bodies of their relatives due to costs they cannot afford, it signals a troubling shift in both governance and social values.

Revenue generation is an essential function of government. However, it should not come at the cost of human dignity or compassion.

Enugu deserves leadership that combines effective administration with empathy and sensitivity to the realities faced by its people.