The Oyo State government has said that the N30 billion intervention fund that the federal government gave after the Bodija, Ibadan explosion in January 2024 was not made public because “special intervention funds are subject to the budgeting process and do not require public announcements upon receipt.”
This happened after people were angry with former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose’s claim that the federal government helped Governor Seyi Makinde help the victims of the explosion, according to reports from Daily Trust.
Remember that on January 16, 2024, a devastating explosion shook Ibadan, killing two persons and hurting 77 more.
The blast also destroyed properties worth billions of naira.
Fayose asked Makinde to explain how he spent the N50 billion that the federal government gave him during a recent interview.
Fayose also showed proof in the form of documents that the federal government approved a N50bn intervention fund.
But Makinde’s media aide, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said in a statement that just N30bn was given to the Oyo State Government, not the N50bn that was agreed.
The administration said again yesterday that it only got N30bn from the federal government.
A statement signed by Professor Musibau Babatunde, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, and Prince Dotun Oyelade, the Information Commissioner, made clear what the government thought.
The statement said that the N30bn was still in the Oyo State Government Infrastructure Support Account (No. 2045199879) with First Bank of Nigeria since it was released in 2024.
“As of December 31, 2025, the N30 billion is still in the Oyo State infrastructure account with First Bank and has not been touched.” People who want to know more can check this information with the bank.
“The Oyo State Government has chosen not to use the N30 billion that has already been released since the relevant federal agencies have not told the state why they are holding on to the remaining N20 billion.
The statement continued, “Given the shameful drama of the last few days from the Federal Government on the approval, the Government of Oyo State is sure that it was smart to ‘wait and see’ before deciding what to do with the money.”
The government alleged that after two years after the accident, the Federal Government has not yet released the remaining N20 billion from the budgeted N50 billion.
“The Oyo State Government is still working to get the rest of the allocated cash so that it can fully fix the damage the explosion did to both public and private property. The statement went on to say, “This is especially important because of the size of the problems the state and the victims are facing. Many of the victims have already received help from the state government within its budget.”
The Makinde government declared that in direct response to the explosion and its effects, it had spent N24.6 billion of its own money on Bodija and the surrounding area.
“This includes N20.141 billion spent on rebuilding roads and other infrastructure in Bodija and nearby areas, as well as N4.085 billion given to victims of the explosion as support and compensation. The statement implied that the Oyo State Government paid for all of these costs.
The government said it “has nothing to hide” and will keep talking to the people openly about everything, including this subject.
It went on to say, “Governor Makinde is still committed to serving the people of Oyo State honestly, faithfully, and with the highest respect for the social contract that binds the government to the people.” He has never refused anyone what they are legally owed, and he won’t do so.
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