The Oyo State Government has disclosed that the N30 billion released by the Federal Government as part of the intervention fund approved for the January 2024 Bodija explosion in Ibadan has remained unspent, nearly two years after the tragic incident.
The state government also revealed that the Federal Government is yet to release the outstanding N20 billion balance from the N50 billion approved to support the reconstruction of Old Bodija and its environs following the January 16, 2024 explosion.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the government said the entire N30 billion remains intact in the Oyo State Government Infrastructure Support Account domiciled with First Bank of Nigeria.
According to the statement, the state deliberately refrained from accessing the fund because the balance of N20 billion approved by the Federal Government has been withheld by relevant federal agencies without any official explanation.
The government recalled that Governor Seyi Makinde had, on January 19, 2024, written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu seeking federal intervention shortly after the explosion, outlining immediate actions already taken by the state, including rescue operations, medical treatment for victims, provision of temporary accommodation and deployment of emergency services.
It added that the governor requested N100 billion to comprehensively address the scale of damage caused by the explosion, covering rubble clearance, integrity tests on buildings, compensation to victims, reconstruction of infrastructure, environmental impact assessment and expansion of emergency response facilities. However, the President approved N50 billion—half of the requested sum—for the reconstruction of Old Bodija and its environs.
Out of the approved amount, the Federal Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, released N30 billion to Oyo State on November 4, 2024, while the remaining N20 billion is yet to be released.
The statement further disclosed that as of January 1, 2026, the Oyo State Government has spent N24.6 billion from its own resources on the Bodija incident, including N20.141 billion on reconstruction of infrastructure and N4.085 billion paid as compensation and support to victims.
The government noted that it acted swiftly after the explosion without waiting for federal intervention, which came almost a year later, stressing that its decision to delay spending the released N30 billion was informed by prudence and transparency.
The statement also referenced documents indicating that N915.5 billion was approved as intervention funds for states nationwide, with some states receiving as much as N150 billion, while Oyo State received one of the lowest allocations despite the severity of the Bodija disaster.
Reaffirming its commitment to accountability, the government stated that special intervention funds are capital grants subject to normal budgeting and auditing processes and do not require public fanfare upon receipt.
The Oyo State Government urged the Federal Government to release the remaining N20 billion to enable comprehensive restoration of Bodija and surrounding communities, while warning against attempts by political actors to exploit the tragedy for personal gain.
Governor Makinde, the statement added, remains committed to transparency, good governance and the welfare of the people of Oyo State, and wished residents a peaceful and prosperous 2026.
