- Safiu Kehinde
Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde, has on Wednesday in Ibadan inaugurated a 10-man committee for the disbursement of relief fund to victims of the explosion at Bodija in January.
Recall that an explosion occured in a private building at Dejo Oyelese street, Adeyi area of Bodija in Ibadan on the 16th of January 2024, claiming several lives.
The explosion, which covered a 14-kilometre radius, also destroyed several houses and property.
Plenary investigation disclosed that the unfortunate incident was caused by the illegal storage of mining devices in a residential house.
Makinde, while inaugurating the committee, charged its members to ensure transparency in carrying out their responsibilities to those who were affected by the incident.
“The job of the committee is to oversee the management and disbursement of the relief fund to those who lost properties to the explosion.
“However, let me clarify that our government is not paying compensation but is only providing support to the people affected,” he said.
The governor then expressed his appreciation of the various professional bodies which worked with the state government when the incident happened.
NAN reports that the state deputy governor, Mr Bayo Lawal, is the chairman of the committee.
Other members of the committee include a former state deputy governor, Chief Iyiola Oladokun, and Bodija Estate Residents Association chairman, Mr Muyiwa Bamgbose.
There are also the Secretary of Oyo State Emergency Management Agency, Mrs Ojuolape Busari, and the governor’s Executive Assistant on Finance, Budget and Planning, Alhaji Gafar Bello, among others.