- Safiu Kehinde
The Oyo State Government has reassured residents of the Bodija Estate Residents Association (BERA) of its continued support of those affected by the 2024 explosion in the area.
Demola Omotosho, the Chairman of the Oyo State Housing Corporation, made this known while addressing newsmen at the 2nd remembrance anniversary of the Bodija explosion.
Omotosho, who represented the state governor, Seyi Makinde, at the event held on Friday at the All Soul’s Church, Old Bodija, Ibadan, commiserated with the families of those that lost their lives in the incident.
“The incident that happened was very unfortunate.
“It was not planned for by anybody. When such things happen, the word of God says in everything, we should give thanks. God is still God despite of all of that.
“When God does something, he gives room for thanksgiving. There is all reasons to give thanks to God.” He said.
Addressing speculations surrounding victims’ compensation and reported Federal Government N50 billion donation, the senior official held that the state government has over time being actively engaging the victims and embarked on intervention projects within the estate which include road construction and donation to the renovation of some damaged properties.
“The government rose up to the occasion and provided succour to the people immediately it happened.
“And afterwards, security was provided, people were lodged over a period of time and so many other things that may bring succour for the people at that time.” He said.
Omotosho assured the residents of more intervention and compensation.
“And even subsequently, the government is still doing a whole lot to make sure that we show empathy to the people and residents of Bodija. Particularly those who lost loved ones. We will continue to show empathy.
“Our prayer is that God will comfort all of us. God will comfort those who have lost of thing or the other, those who have lost ones.” He said.
Omotosho maintained that the state government had since been engaging the affected victims even before the Federal Government’s donation.
He also noted that the Seyi Makinde administration is moved by the speculations surrounding the donation.
“Even before anybody, the period when the incident happened, the period when they are saying the money was released, the government stood up as a matter of duty.
“The government came to the need of the people not knowing whether money is going to come from anywhere. Even when people are saying money has come, the government will not shortchange anybody.
“It has an ongoing process, what has been released, what will still be released, what is going on- the roads and the infrastructures that are being rebuilt.
“The government is still showing that these people are my people. The lives lost are the people, citizens, and indigenes of Oyo State of which is governor is the father of all.
“We are not troubled by what people are saying. The fact is that the government is alive to the reasonability. It is an ongoing thing. More succour, more things are still coming the way of the people.
“The government will be alive to its responsibility to do more in terms of everything. We have done road. We have fixed so many things.” He added.