Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, received the report from the committee on the management and disbursement of the Bodija Explosion Relief Fund and pledged to implement its recommendations promptly.
Acknowledging that the state government could no longer afford further delays, Governor Makinde assured that the explosion victims would receive support and relief without hesitation.
He made this commitment after Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal received the committee’s report on his behalf at the Oyo Governor’s Office in Ibadan on Wednesday.
It is worth recalling that Makinde inaugurated the committee on December 24, 2024, to provide recommendations on the disbursement and management of the Bodija Explosion Relief Fund.
NewsClickNg Media previously reported that the explosion occurred on January 16, 2024, at Aderinola Street, Old Bodija, Ibadan, resulting in five deaths, 78 injuries, damage to 58 houses, and a total of 335 people affected.
Governor Makinde stated that the state had thoroughly investigated the root cause of the unusual incident and had been implementing measures over the past year to help the victims rebuild their lives.
“The government put this committee in place of which I am the chairman. Let me say clearly that my principal agreed that I must receive this report and that the government will act on the report.
“So, on behalf of His Excellency, I want to assure you that this report would be looked into quickly and the recommendations therein would be implemented.
“We know that we do not have the luxury of further delay in implementation. We will put in all the efforts that will be required for quick implementation so that victims of the explosion would be assuaged and assisted without further delay,” he said.
Earlier, Fatai Owoseni, a retired police commissioner and committee member who represented the chairman, provided a breakdown of the four-volume report.
He explained that the report incorporated inputs from the Dejo Oyelese Vigilante Group, the Bodija Estate Residents Association, and other experts.
According to Owoseni, the report outlines the framework for distributing the government’s financial support to affected individuals, details the allocation of funds for each victim, and includes a comprehensive pictorial representation and description of the damages caused by the explosion.
Also speaking, the President of BERA, Muyiwa Bamgbose, said the committee proposed support for different categories of victims, including those who lost loved ones, buildings, vehicles and other valuables.
“We proposed support for different categories of people, for the families of those who lost their lives and those who lost buildings, vehicles and the rest. So, it varies.
“We recommended different figures depending on what we perceived was the level of effect on each of these people.
“We expect that, like His Excellency said, the implementation will be expedited. We have done due diligence and what we are presenting will be ready to go.”
