- Safiu Kehinde
The Bodija Estate Residents Association (BERA) has disclosed being unaware of the N50 billion Federal Government’s donation to the victims of the 2024 explosion.
Muyiwa Bamgbose, the association’s President made this known during his address at the 2nd year remembrance anniversary held on Friday at the All Soul’s Church, Old Bodija, Ibadan.
The BERA President who had earlier delivered his welcome address and goodwill message returned to the pulpit to clarify the ongoing controversies surrounding the donation.
“I know there are things in our hearts; things we are pondering over. We are in a house of God. We have heard about stories about N50, N30bn. Many people are wondering what are we doing about it. We are aware of all these,” Bamgbose said adding that they got support from the government which he said not adequate.
“We didn’t know there was money. The people who represented the government did not know there was money. Our attitude is that they didn’t know there was money. Now they know that there is money,” he added that those who needed to be paid should be paid
NPO Reported that former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, had called out the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over alleged refusal release the N50 billion compensation fund donated to the state government by the Federal Government.
In reaction, Makinde disclosed that only N30 billion was released by the FG with the state government disbursing some of the funds to the affected residents.
Reacting during his address to the congregation,, Bamgbose claimed the association was initially unaware of the FG donation.
He however urged the Oyo State government to ensure efficient disbursement of the fund to the affected victims, particularly those who lost their loved ones.
The BERA President further confirmed that part of the funds has been released to the victims, particularly those whose properties were destroyed.
This, according to him, is however insufficient as compared to the released fund as well as worth of properties destroyed.
“The fact of the matter is we got support from the government but the support is barely enough.
“Most people that were able to finish their houses, they added money. They said some people borrowed money.
“We had a figure, which was cut down because there was no money. We didn’t know there was money. The other people that represented the government didn’t know there was money.
“Our attitude is, we didn’t know there was money. Now we know there is money. People that go shortchanged can now get their full change.
“It is an appeal that we are making.” Bamgbose said.
He also noted that the family of deceased victims are yet to get any form of compensation from the government.
The BERA President disclosed that the Ministry of Justice allegedly demanded inheritance tax from the deceased victims’ families before they can be paid.
“The family of those who lost their loved ones have not been given what is supposed to be given to them.
“We were told that the Ministry of Justice was saying they should pay inheritance tax. Our appeal is that this is not inheritance. This is support.
“Whatever needs to be waived should be waived. Nobody should want anybody who lost their loved ones to pay any tax from what they are getting. So, we are appealing, let them be paid.
“That.money cannot buy the lives of those people. Some of them have children in school. The children are looking with fallen eyes about how tomorrow will be. Some of them have parents who depend on them.”
“We are appealing, let them be paid.” He said.
Bamgbose also urged the state government to consider extending the disbursement to injured victims and those whose houses damaged by the explosion but were located beyond the government prescribed 500 metres distance to the epicenter.
The BERA President finally noted that budget compensation for those whose cars were damaged was also shortchanged.
“We are also pleading, there are people that were injured. Government paid the hospital bill, but they also spent money. We are appealing, let them be paid.
“There are people whose houses were beyond 500 metres. This church is at the extreme.Those built beyond here we’re not paid.
“We are pleading. We didn’t know there was money. Now we know there is money. Please pay them.
“People lost their cars. The budget for cars repair and all that was like two hundred and thirty something million.
“It was cut to sixty something million. We did that because we didn’t know there was money. Now we know there is money.” He added.