On the night of 16 January 2024, explosives stored illegally by miners in a house in Old Bodija, Ibadan, exploded, leading to loss of lives and destruction of properties. In response to this tragedy, the Oyo State Government carried out search and rescue operations, taking the injured to hospitals and the dead to morgues. The government also had to provide temporary accommodation in hotels for those who were displaced, including feeding them for a period of time.
Subsequently, the Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Seyi Makinde, FNSE, approached the Federal Government for assistance with a request of ₦100 billion as an intervention fund. His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, approved ₦50 billion as an intervention fund to Oyo State.
This post addresses questions asked about this intervention fund.
1. How much did the Oyo State Government receive from the Federal Government as intervention for the Bodija Incident?
Although the Federal Government approved ₦50 billion as an intervention fund, only ₦30 billion was released and received by the Oyo State Government into its First Bank Infrastructure Support Account No 2045199879 on 4 November 2024.
2. Why was ₦50 billion mentioned in the first place?
The Oyo State Government requested ₦100 billion as Intervention Fund following the Bodija Incident. ₦50 billion was approved, but only ₦30 billion was released to the Oyo State Government by the Federal Government.
3. Is there documentation showing the payment(s) received?
The Oyo State Government has released the bank statement showing the receipt of ₦30 billion from the Federal Government into the State’s First Bank Infrastructure Support Account No 2045199879.
4. What has the Oyo State Government done since the Bodija Incident occurred?
Prior to the receipt of the intervention fund, the Oyo State Government had spent money on search and rescue operations, temporary accommodation in hotels and feeding for displaced victims, hospital bills, demolition of unsafe structures, clearance of debris and integrity tests on buildings within 500m of the blast site and repairs of facilities affected by the blast, totalling N383.23 million.
Other actions taken so far:
- Reconstruction/rehabilitation of roads in Old Bodija and environs – N20.14 billion
- Support to victims of the Bodija Incident – N4.08 billion
5. Why did the Oyo State Government not announce the receipt of the ₦30 billion released by the Federal Government as intervention fund?
The ₦30 billion released by the Federal Government was received as a capital grant by the Oyo State Government and treated as such. The fund has to be utilised in line with the normal budgeting process and duly accounted for in the State’s audited financial reports. This is common practice and explains why no other State which also received intervention funds announced theirs publicly.
6. Why has the Oyo State Government not spent the N30 billion released by the Federal Government as intervention fund?
The ₦30 billion released by the Federal Government was received on 4 November 2024, nearly a year after the Bodija Incident. The amount approved was ₦50 billion, but the Federal Government withheld payment of the balance of ₦20 billion without any official explanation. The Oyo State Government decided to draw on the funds when payment is completed.
7. Why are there no charges or interest paid on the N30 billion received by the Oyo State Government from the Federal Government as intervention fund?
The ₦30 billion from the Federal Government was received into the State’s First Bank Infrastructure Support Account No 2045199879. This account is not an interest-yielding account. Typically, charges are waived for government accounts. Also, the money was not supposed to be kept to yield interest; it was not withdrawn only because of the circumstances surrounding it – that the outstanding amount had not been released.
8. Has the Oyo State Government requested the Federal Government to release the outstanding balance?
Requests have been made by the Oyo State Government to the Federal Government for the release of the remaining ₦20 billion.
9. Is the Oyo State Government expecting the balance of the funds?
The withheld amount is still due and the Oyo State Government is still expecting the release of ₦20 billion as approved by the president.
10. Why has the issue surfaced now?
Following Governor Seyi Makinde’s media chat on 23 December 2025, where he stated that he would not support the president’s second-term ambition, former Governor Ayodele Fayose alleged, in a TV interview, that Governor Makinde received N50 billion from the Federal Government after the Bodija Incident.
11. What support did the Federal Government provide after the Bodija Incident beyond funding?
Beyond funding, the Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), helped with emergency services and evacuations at the site. The Federal Government also provided emergency food relief to victims of the Bodija explosion.
12. Were the victims and affected communities compensated?
The Oyo State Government did not pay compensation to the victims. Rather, the government provided financial support for victims to the tune of N4.08 billion.
13. How did the Oyo State Government decide on the support to give to the victims and the repair of infrastructure in the affected area?
A committee was set up by the Oyo State Government, led by the Deputy Governor, His Excellency Barr. Abdulraheem Adebayo Lawal to promote further transparency around issues related to support of victims and rebuilding of the explosion site and surroundings. The committee submitted its report in February 2025, and its recommendations are being implemented.
14. Is the Bodija site now safe?
The Bodija explosion site has been cleared, and most of the houses have been rebuilt. The government has also demolished failed structures, while Ground Zero has been reserved for the building of a memorial. The entire area was secured for a full year while rebuilding took place. Security has been relaxed as all immediate threats have been removed.
15. What is the current status of the Bodija reconstruction efforts?
Reconstruction/rehabilitation of roads and installation of street lights are ongoing. Other infrastructure damaged such as water pipes and electricity have already been restored.
16. What lessons were learned from the tragic incident?
A need for readiness of emergency systems and ambulances to be deployed within the shortest possible time of incidents. Also, sensitising citizens about their civic responsibilities.
17. What is the Oyo State Government doing to prevent such disasters in the future?
Following the explosion, the Oyo State Government has been able to identify key areas that require tightening, including security systems, and laws around the movement and storage of explosive materials, which have not been updated in decades. To this end, Governor Seyi Makinde signed Executive Order 001, 2024, on the Safe Handling and Storage of Harmful Substances Within Oyo State.
The government had, months earlier, seen the need to register miners and persons carrying on mining operations within Oyo State by signing Executive Order No 001 of 2023 on the Protection of Mining Communities against Insecurity and Exploitation to address issues that are in the direct purview of the State Government.
Public enlightenment is also being carried out for citizens to use the toll-free 615 emergency contact number if they see something untoward.