The Oyo State Government has disclosed that the N30 billion released by the Federal Government as part of the approved intervention fund for the January 16, 2024, Bodija explosion in Ibadan has remained untouched nearly two years after the tragic incident.
The state government also revealed that the Federal Government has yet to release the outstanding N20 billion balance from the N50 billion earlier approved to support the reconstruction of Old Bodija and surrounding communities affected by the explosion.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the state Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, the government confirmed that the N30 billion remains intact in the Oyo State Government Infrastructure Support Account (No. 2045199879) domiciled with FirstBank of Nigeria.
According to the statement, following the explosion, Governor Seyi Makinde formally wrote to President Bola Tinubu on January 19, 2024, requesting emergency financial intervention to manage the disaster and its far-reaching consequences.
The governor’s correspondence detailed the immediate actions already undertaken by the state government, including large-scale search-and-rescue operations, deployment of earth-moving equipment, provision of ambulances and medical personnel, full coverage of medical bills for injured victims, and temporary accommodation for displaced residents at the state’s expense.
Governor Makinde further outlined areas requiring federal support, such as debris clearance, structural integrity assessments and demolition of unsafe buildings, compensation for affected property owners, environmental impact assessments, expansion of emergency response infrastructure, and the comprehensive reconstruction of Old Bodija and its environs.
While the Oyo State Government estimated the total intervention cost at N100 billion, the president approved N50 billion – half of the requested amount – specifically designated as support for the reconstruction of Old Bodija and surrounding areas. Of this sum, only N30 billion was released by the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria on November 4, 2024.
The state government explained that it deliberately refrained from accessing the released funds because the remaining N20 billion has been withheld by relevant federal agencies without any official explanation.
“As of December 31, 2025, the N30 billion remains untouched in the account. Interested members of the public may verify this with the bank,” the statement said, adding that the decision to “wait and see” was informed by ongoing uncertainty surrounding the release of the outstanding balance.
The government noted that nearly two years after the explosion, the Federal Government has still not fulfilled its commitment to release the full approved sum, despite the scale of destruction and humanitarian challenges faced by residents.
The statement further disclosed that, independent of federal support, the Oyo State Government has spent N24.6 billion from its own resources to address the disaster’s impact. This includes N20.141 billion expended on infrastructural reconstruction in Bodija and adjoining areas, and N4.085 billion paid as compensation and direct support to victims.
The government also referenced documents released by the Federal Government through its ‘political agent’, Ayo Fayose, which reportedly show that a total of N915.5 billion was approved as intervention funds for states nationwide.
According to the documents, some states received allocations as high as N150 billion and N50 billion, while Oyo State – despite experiencing one of the most devastating incidents – received one of the lowest allocations.
Clarifying standard procedure, the government noted that special intervention funds are treated as capital grants and must undergo due budgeting processes before expenditure, which explains the absence of public announcements upon receipt.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, the Oyo State Government said it has nothing to hide and will continue to keep the public informed, while cautioning against what it described as attempts by “desperate political actors” to exploit the Bodija tragedy for personal or political gain.
Governor Makinde, the statement concluded, remains committed to fulfilling the social contract with the people of Oyo State and to ensuring that all legally due obligations to victims of the explosion are met, as the government continues efforts to secure the release of the remaining N20 billion.
