Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Nearly two years after a devastating explosion tore through the Bodija area of Ibadan, the Oyo State Government has provided a detailed account of its engagement with the Federal Government over emergency intervention funds, explaining why billions of naira approved for recovery and reconstruction remain unused amid an incomplete release of the allocation.
The explosion, which occurred on January 16, 2024, in the densely populated Old Bodija neighbourhood, caused widespread destruction of homes, displacement of residents, and loss of lives. In the immediate aftermath, the incident drew national attention and prompted calls for urgent humanitarian and infrastructural intervention. Acknowledging that federal mechanisms exist to support states during large-scale emergencies, Governor Seyi Makinde formally reached out to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu within days of the disaster.
In a letter dated January 19, 2024, Governor Makinde outlined the gravity of the situation and the steps already taken by the Oyo State Government to stabilise the affected communities. According to the governor, the state mobilised earth-moving equipment to support search-and-rescue operations, deployed ambulances and medical personnel to the scene, and ensured that injured victims received treatment with all medical expenses covered by the state. Displaced residents were temporarily housed in hotels, also at the state’s expense, as authorities worked to assess the scale of the damage.
Beyond these immediate actions, the governor’s correspondence detailed the extensive work required to fully restore normalcy to Bodija and its environs. He emphasised the need for continued rubble clearance to aid rescue and recovery, structural integrity tests on buildings within the blast radius, demolition of unsafe structures, compensation for property owners, and large-scale reconstruction of affected neighbourhoods. Additional requirements included environmental impact assessments, expansion of the state’s emergency response infrastructure, logistics support, and broader infrastructural development to rehabilitate the area after what officials described as massive destruction.
Based on these needs, the Oyo State Government estimated the cost of a comprehensive intervention at ₦100 billion and requested presidential approval for that amount. After reviewing the request, the Federal Government approved ₦50 billion, representing half of the sum sought by the state. Official documents later clarified that the purpose of the approved funds was specifically to support the reconstruction of Old Bodija and surrounding areas affected by the explosion.
Following the approval, the Oyo State Government opened a dedicated Infrastructure Support Account with First Bank of Nigeria to manage the intervention funds transparently. The account was created solely for the Bodija recovery project, in line with standard financial procedures for special-purpose federal allocations. However, the release of the approved funds did not occur at once. On November 4, 2024, the Federal Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, disbursed ₦30 billion into the account, leaving an outstanding balance of ₦20 billion unreleased.
As of December 31, 2025, the Oyo State Government says the ₦30 billion already received remains untouched in the designated account. State officials maintain that this decision was deliberate, guided by caution and prudence, given that the full amount approved by the Federal Government has not been released. According to the state, utilising part of the funds without clarity on the release of the remaining ₦20 billion could complicate planning and execution of the comprehensive reconstruction programme envisioned for Bodija.
Officials argue that the recovery effort was designed as a single, integrated intervention rather than a piecemeal project. Key components such as compensation, rebuilding, safety assessments, and infrastructural upgrades are interlinked, and partial funding could undermine their effectiveness. The state government has therefore opted to “wait and see,” particularly in light of what it describes as recent public controversy and mixed signals from federal authorities regarding the approval.
Almost two years after the explosion, the continued withholding of the ₦20 billion balance has become a point of concern for the Oyo State Government and affected residents. State officials say no formal explanation has been communicated by the relevant federal agencies for the delay, despite repeated expectations that the balance would follow after the initial disbursement. This prolonged uncertainty, they contend, has slowed the pace of full-scale reconstruction and left many victims in limbo.
The situation has also reignited broader discussions about disaster response coordination between federal and state governments in Nigeria. Analysts note that while states are often first responders to emergencies within their territories, large-scale disasters frequently exceed their financial capacity, making timely federal intervention critical. Delays or partial releases of approved funds, critics argue, can undermine recovery efforts and erode public confidence.
For residents of Bodija, the unresolved funding issue adds to the trauma of the explosion itself. Many families are still awaiting compensation or permanent rebuilding of their homes, while concerns remain about structural safety in parts of the neighbourhood. Community leaders have repeatedly called for swift and decisive action to prevent the tragedy from becoming a lingering humanitarian and urban crisis.
The Oyo State Government insists that the ₦30 billion already released is intact and verifiable, and has encouraged interested members of the public to confirm the status of the account with the bank. State officials stress that the funds have not been diverted or misused, reiterating their commitment to transparency and accountability in managing public resources.
As the second anniversary of the Bodija explosion approaches, attention is increasingly focused on whether the Federal Government will release the remaining ₦20 billion from the approved ₦50 billion intervention. For Oyo State, the outstanding balance is not merely a financial figure but a crucial component of restoring lives, rebuilding communities, and closing a painful chapter in the history of Ibadan.
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