Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday, inaugurated a 10-member committee to manage and disburse the Bodija Explosion Relief Fund.
The fund is aimed at supporting victims of the tragic explosion that occurred on January 16, 2024, at Dejo Oyelese Street in Bodija, Ibadan, which claimed several lives and left many injured.
During the inauguration at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, Governor Makinde stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in the use of the relief fund.
“The committee’s role is to ensure the proper management and disbursement of the funds to those who lost property in the explosion,” he stated.
“The government’s support is not compensation but an effort to do what is right for the affected people of Oyo State.”
Governor Makinde also announced plans to repair the road leading to Dejo Oyelese Street and to erect a monument in remembrance of the tragic incident.
“We are committed to ensuring the right thing is done for those affected by this unfortunate event,” he said.
The governor further expressed his appreciation for the professional bodies that responded to the explosion, pledging that their expertise would be incorporated into the committee’s work.
“I appreciate the various professional bodies that assisted during the aftermath of the explosion,” Makinde added.
“We will work with capable individuals to ensure resources are deployed effectively and where they are most needed.”
The relief fund committee is chaired by the state’s Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, and comprises notable individuals, including: Iyiola Oladokun, former Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Dejo Oyelese Vigilante Group, Muyiwa Bamgbose, Chairman of the Bodija Estate Residents Association, Ojuolape Busari, Secretary of the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency
Other members include representatives from professional organizations such as the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, and the Dejo Oyelese Vigilante Group.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by prominent personalities, including former Deputy Governor Hamid Gbadamosi, Mutiat Ladoja, wife of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, former Speaker Monsurat Sunmonu, Chief of Staff Segun Ogunwuyi, and other senior government officials and political leaders.
