Bodija Explosion: Over N177m Spent On Accommodation, Feeding, Medical Bills Of Victims – Oyo Govt
*Says victims well catered for
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Government on Monday, declared that contrary to insinuations that it has abandoned welfare of victims of Bodija explosion in Ibadan, it has committed over N160 million on their accommodation and feeding alone
The State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade who made this known in a statement said the state government has also picked up a medical bill of over N17 million while those still in hospitals are being actively catered for.”
Prince Oyelade while debunking the insinuation maintained that ” the rumour is unfair and unnecessary”, adding that ever since the January 16 explosion, ” government has been spending between 15 and 20 million naira weekly on accommodation and feeding for the victims in the past eight weeks”.
“As we speak, government has spent over N160 million on accommodation and feeding alone for the victims who were immediately accommodated at the Hotels and the 38 of them still residing in the various hotels.” he said.
The Commissioner added, “In the same vein, government has picked up a medical bill of over N17 million while those still in hospitals are being actively catered for.”
Prince Oyelade pointed out that 7 decent hotels, some in highbrow areas, are being used to accommodate victims of the unfortunate incident, adding ” N2 million is spent weekly, amounting to N16 million in eight weeks, for security operatives to protect the property left behind by the victims.”
Commenting on the rumour that some of the victims were ejected from their hotels, saying, “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’.
Emphasizing that Government does not think ” making an issue of fumigating a facility is the correct thing to do because such exercise is routine and the prerogative of the hotel owners”, he noted that on the accusation that victims meals have been reduced to one, ” government sees this as equally spurious because many hotels provide complimentary breakfast, and most of our wards go out in the day time, hence, government’s decision to provide dinner”.
The commissioner stressed that 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.
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