Oyo govt allocates N160m for accommodation, feeding of explosion victims

The Oyo State Government said that it has been allocating between N15,000,000 to N20,000,000 for the past eight weeks towards accommodation and meals for victims affected by the Bodija explosion.

In a statement issued by Dotun Oyelade, the State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, on Monday, he refuted claims suggesting abandonment of the victims.

He clarified that the government has already disbursed over N160,000,000 for accommodation and food, with 38 individuals still lodged across seven upscale hotels.

Meanwhile, the government has allocated N2,000,000 per week over the past eight weeks to ensure security in the explosion-affected area.

Oyelade also disclosed that the state government has taken on medical expenses totaling approximately N17,000,000 for the victims, including ongoing care for those still receiving treatment in hospitals.

Addressing rumors of reduced meal provisions, he dismissed such claims as baseless. He clarified that the government relocated the victims to a new hotel in Jericho for fumigation purposes, refuting assertions of eviction.

Oyelade said, “As we speak, the government has spent over 160 million naira on accommodation and feeding alone for the victims who were immediately accommodated at the hotels, and 38 of them are still residing in the various hotels.

“In the same vein, the government has picked up a medical bill of over 17 million naira, while those still in hospitals are being actively catered for.

“The rumor that some of the victims were ejected from their hotels is farther from the truth.

“One of the hotels at Idi-Ape informed their occupants that they would like to fumigate their premises, and the state government took it upon itself to immediately arrange transportation for the explosion victims to be accommodated in another hotel at Jericho together with members of their families.

“The government does not think making an issue of fumigating a facility is the correct thing to do because such an exercise is routine and the prerogative of the hotel owners.

“On the accusation that victims meals have been reduced to one, the government sees this as equally spurious because many hotels provide complimentary breakfast and most of our wards go out in the daytime, hence the government’s decision to provide dinner.

“The government is humbled by the gratitude and understanding shown by the victims and the populace alike, who see the genuineness of government spending millions of naira to protect the property left behind by the victims, including the large sums of money spent on their medical bills, accommodation, and feeding so far.”