The Oyo state Government has disclosed that it has expended over N160 million providing accommodation, security for victims of the Bodija explosion.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the Government reacted to an allegation by the landlord association of the estate where the blast occurred that the government has abandoned the welfare of the victims.
The commissioner revealed 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 160 million naira 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,” the commissioner said.
“In the same vein, government has picked up a medical bill of over 17 million naira while those still in hospitals are being actively catered for.”
The commissioner said that seven decent hotels, some in highbrow areas, are being used to accommodate victims of the unfortunate incident.
The commissioner also said that two million naira is spent weekly, amounting to 16 million naira in eight weeks, for security operatives to protect the property left behind by the victims.
On the rumour that some of the victims were ejected from their hotels, the commissioner for information said nothing can be 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.
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.
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.
Prince Dotun Oyelade said 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.