Ibadan explosion: Oyo says N30bn FG fund unspent, N20bn balance unreleased
The Oyo State Government has said the N30 billion released by the federal government as intervention funds for the January 16, 2024 Bodija explosion in Ibadan remains untouched almost two years after the incident.
It also disclosed that the federal government is yet to release the outstanding N20 billion balance from the N50 billion approved for the reconstruction of Old Bodija and surrounding areas.
In a statement on Thursday, the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, said the N30 billion is still intact in the Oyo State Government Infrastructure Support Account with FirstBank.
The statement explained that Governor Seyi Makinde wrote to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on January 19, 2024, requesting federal support and outlining steps already taken by the state to manage the disaster.
These steps included search-and-rescue operations, full medical care for injured victims, deployment of ambulances and medical personnel, and temporary accommodation for displaced residents at the state’s expense.
The governor also sought support for rubble clearance, integrity tests and demolition of unsafe buildings, compensation for affected property owners, and the reconstruction of Old Bodija. Although the state requested N100 billion, the federal government approved N50 billion.
The government said it has refrained from using the N30 billion released on November 4, 2024, because the remaining N20 billion has been withheld by federal agencies without explanation.
Despite this, Oyo State said it has spent N24.6 billion of its own funds on recovery efforts, including infrastructure reconstruction and compensation for victims, while reaffirming its commitment to transparency and full restoration of the affected communities.
