Oyo APC Demands Transparency Over Alleged ₦50 Billion Federal Relief for Ibadan Explosion Victims
The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has demanded that Governor Seyi Makinde provide a detailed account of an alleged ₦50 billion relief fund said to have been disbursed by the Federal Government to address the aftermath of the January 18, 2024 explosion in Ibadan. The opposition party insists that residents of the state deserve clarity on whether such funds were received and, if so, how they were utilized.
The call was made in a statement issued on Sunday by Olawale Sadare, the APC’s Publicity Secretary in Oyo State. Sadare argued that the controversy surrounding the alleged fund had raised serious questions about transparency and accountability in the handling of disaster relief, especially given the scale of destruction caused by the explosion.
The January 18 incident occurred on Aderinola Street in the Bodija area of Ibadan, where a powerful blast killed at least five people and damaged or destroyed more than 50 buildings. Investigations by authorities later linked the explosion to illegal miners who reportedly stored explosives in a residential building. The incident triggered widespread public outrage and prompted both state and federal responses.
In the days following the explosion, Governor Makinde submitted a report on the incident to President Bola Tinubu. By May 2024, the Oyo State Government announced the approval of ₦4.5 billion as financial assistance for victims and survivors, covering compensation, rebuilding efforts, and other forms of support. The state government maintained that the funds were part of its direct intervention to cushion the impact of the disaster on affected residents.
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However, the controversy deepened after former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose alleged during a television interview that the Federal Government had released ₦50 billion to Governor Makinde as an intervention fund for the Bodija explosion. Fayose further claimed that the money did not pass through the official coffers of the Oyo State Government, an allegation that immediately drew public attention and political reactions.
Responding to the claim, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, dismissed the allegation as false and challenged Fayose to provide evidence to support his assertion. The Oyo State Government maintained that there was no record of receiving such an amount from the Federal Government.
The situation took another turn on Sunday when Fayose released a statement alongside a screenshot of a document purportedly from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. The document allegedly referenced a ₦50 billion request described as “intervention funding support for the reconstruction of Old Bodija and environs after the Bodija explosion.” The document was circulated on social media by Lere Olayinka, a media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Seizing on this development, the Oyo APC insisted that the governor could no longer rely on media rebuttals alone. Sadare stated that the governor must provide a comprehensive explanation, particularly in light of previous claims that only ₦4.5 billion was spent on relief efforts.
According to the APC spokesperson, the issue goes beyond partisan politics and touches on public trust. He argued that if such a significant sum was indeed released, there should be verifiable records detailing disbursement, beneficiaries, and completed projects linked to the relief fund.
Beyond the financial allegations, Sadare also dismissed claims attributed to Governor Makinde suggesting that President Tinubu had asked him to help “organise” the APC in Oyo State. He described such remarks as misleading and maintained that the party did not require reorganisation under the leadership of a governor from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
As the debate continues, the controversy has sparked broader public discussions about transparency in disaster relief funding, inter-party rivalries, and the accountability mechanisms governing federal-state financial interventions. Neither the Federal Government nor the Office of the Accountant-General has issued an official clarification on the alleged ₦50 billion disbursement as of the time of reporting.
With political tensions rising and public scrutiny intensifying, observers say the unfolding situation could have significant implications for governance, public confidence, and future disaster-response funding in Oyo State and beyond.