Bodija Explosion : N30bn Federal Govt Bodija Support Untouched, N20bn Still Pending—Oyo Govt

…As State highlights N24.6bn spent from its own resources on reconstruction and victim compensation.

…As Oyo Govt urges public to verify federal govt fund status, rejects political exploitation of Bodija tragedy.

The Oyo State Government has clarified the status of the N50 billion federal intervention fund approved for the reconstruction of Old Bodija and surrounding areas following the January 16, 2024 explosion in Ibadan, stating that N30 billion released by the Federal Government remains untouched in a dedicated account.

In a press statement issued on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Professor Musibau Babatunde, in reaction to the allegation laid against Oyo State government in misappropriation of N50 Billion Bodija Explosion support by the Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose and Oyo APC, explained that Governor Seyi Makinde formally requested federal assistance shortly after the disaster, which claimed lives, destroyed properties, and displaced residents.

According to the statement, Governor Makinde wrote to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on January 19, 2024, detailing the emergency actions already taken by the state government.

These included search-and-rescue operations using heavy equipment, full medical care for injured victims at state expense, deployment of ambulances and medical personnel, and provision of hotel accommodation for displaced residents.

The governor also requested federal support for additional interventions such as debris clearance, structural integrity tests and demolition of unsafe buildings, compensation for affected property owners, reconstruction of Old Bodija and its environs, environmental impact assessment, expansion of emergency response infrastructure, and other logistics required to restore normalcy.

The Oyo State Government estimated the total cost of these interventions at N100 billion. However, the Federal Government approved N50 billion, specifically for the reconstruction of Old Bodija and surrounding communities.

Following the approval, a special Oyo State Government Infrastructure Support Account was opened with First Bank of Nigeria. Of the approved sum, N30 billion was released through the Central Bank of Nigeria on November 4, 2024.

The state government disclosed that, as of December 31, 2025, the N30 billion remains untouched in the account, noting that interested members of the public may verify this information with the bank.

The statement explained that the government deliberately refrained from accessing the funds because the remaining N20 billion balance has not been released by relevant federal agencies, nearly two years after the disaster, without any official explanation.

Meanwhile, the state government said it has independently borne the financial burden of emergency response and reconstruction efforts. As of January 1, 2026, Oyo State has spent N24.6 billion of its own resources on Bodija and surrounding areas. This includes N20.141 billion for infrastructure reconstruction and N4.085 billion paid as support and compensation to victims.

The government also referenced documents released by a federal political agent, Mr Ayo Fayose, which indicate that N915.5 billion was approved nationwide as intervention funds for states.

According to the documents, some states received as much as N150 billion, while Oyo State received one of the lowest allocations despite the scale of the Bodija disaster.

Addressing concerns about public disclosure, the government stated that intervention funds are treated as capital grants and are subject to the normal budgeting and financial reporting process, noting that states are not required to make special public announcements upon receipt.

The statement reaffirmed the Makinde administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability, while cautioning against what it described as attempts by political actors to exploit the Bodija tragedy for personal or political gain.

The Oyo State Government expressed appreciation to residents for their understanding and support, assuring them that efforts would continue to secure the release of the outstanding N20 billion to fully address the damage caused by the explosion.