FG’s N30bn Bodija relief fund remains unused — Oyo

By Adejayan Gbenga –

The Oyo State Government has revealed that the N30 billion released by the federal government as intervention funds for the January 16, 2024, Bodija explosion in Ibadan remains unspent almost two years after the incident.

The state government also disclosed that the federal government has yet to release the remaining N20 billion from the N50 billion approved for the reconstruction of Old Bodija and surrounding communities affected by the explosion.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the government said the N30 billion is domiciled in the Oyo State Government Infrastructure Support Account with First Bank of Nigeria.

It explained that the funds have not been accessed because the balance of the approved intervention funds has not been released by the relevant federal agencies.

According to the statement, Governor Seyi Makinde formally requested federal assistance shortly after the explosion, detailing the emergency measures already undertaken by the state government.

These measures included search-and-rescue operations, medical treatment for injured victims, provision of temporary accommodation for displaced residents, and the deployment of emergency and medical personnel to the affected area.

The government said it initially estimated the total cost of intervention at N100 billion, but the President approved N50 billion for the reconstruction of Old Bodija and its environs, out of which N30 billion was released through the Central Bank of Nigeria on November 4, 2024.

It added that as of December 31, 2025, the N30 billion remained untouched, noting that the Oyo State Government has spent N24.6 billion from its own resources on infrastructure reconstruction and compensation for victims, while calling on the federal government to release the outstanding N20 billion to enable full restoration of the affected areas.