Life In Naija: Toheeb, the Cemetery Attendant who digs graves for a living

ayodele johnson 23:27 - 02 December 2018

Toheeb is not a direct employee at the cemetery where he works. He gets money by working for a boss who takes orders from his father who is charged by the United Nations Organization to keep a War Memorial in good condition.

Stealing is not an option to explore for Toheeb who opts for a menial job that involves gardening at a burial ground in Lagos.

At the Atan Cemetery in Lagos is a young man named Toheeb.

He is part of a team charged with the duty of maintaining the War Memorial where the memories of soldiers who died in the World Wars are kept.

"My former name is Ayanime. I am from Ikot Ikpene in Akwa Ibom State. I came to Lagos in the year 2008 and found work at the Atan Cemetery. I am part of the team responsible for grooming the World Wars garden" he tells Pulse.

Toheeb is not a direct employee at the cemetery where he works. He gets money through the work he does for a boss who takes orders from his father charged by the United Nations Organization to keep a War Memorial in good condition.

Toheeb who changed his name to get a sense of belonging in Lagos State says life has been tough on him.

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He is able to offer services that include digging graves. Sometimes he goes through the whole process of digging and burying the deceased for N500.

Often times, he goes home with N4,000 from his funeral gigs. He confirms this as his highest earnings -- but one that costs him a lot of energy. Like when he dug a grave for almost two hours.

“I dig sometimes when I don’t have money to eat,” Toheeb opens up.

He does this to support an unsteady source of income involving lending gardening help at the War Memorial. When the man he works for is able to get some jobs, he gives him some cash as his reward. Like his boss, he is not directly employed to work at the U.N facility.

Combining gardening work with digging graves for a fee have helped Toheeb with feeding himself. He faces a tough test ahead due to limited opportunities.

Simply, they both work for the boss’s father who gives them aninstruction on what to do.

There is no better option for Toheeb who is able to function as a mechanic and can also lay bricks.

“I don’t have anybody in Lagos except me and my sister. That is why I run out to work hard because I don’t want to feel hungry and I don’t want to steal.

“So that is why I am doing so many odd jobs to get money.”

Toheeb was about to complete his internship at a mechanic workshop but his boss sent him away until he is able to complete payment for his training.

Still looking for the amount, he settles for stipends at the War Memorial.

"The type of help I need is for me to finish my work. Or if I can see a place to learn a new skill and be mentored.

“If I can also be linked with a company that can give me regular jobs relating to my skills, that will be better," Pulse learns from Toheeb.

Toheeb plans to stick to the hard work at the cemetery until he finds a better option than digging a home for the dearly departed.

Until help comes calling, working hard at the cemetery is unfortunately the only opening, to assist him with daily needs.

He wishes himself a character in a better living condition.