The Oyo State Executive Council has authorised a fresh ₦4.5 billion compensation package for survivors and the families of victims of the 16 January 2024 Bodija explosion.
Announcing the decision, Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation Prince Dotun Oyelade said the new funds are in addition to more than ₦200 million the state has already spent on emergency accommodation, medical care, feeding and security since the blast.
Council also endorsed a ten‑member committee’s recommendation to revoke the titles of two adjoining properties on Adeyi Avenue, Bodija—the site of the explosion—in the overall public interest.
According to Oyelade, the land would be converted into a memorial park to honour those who lost their lives.
He criticised what he called disinformation, half‑truths and mischievous lies circulating about the government’s handling of the disaster, describing such claims as unfair and misleading.
The government will not be discouraged from doing what is just for its citizens, he added.
The commissioner further disclosed that the Ministry of Justice will press ahead with the prosecution of suspects already before the courts and is working with security agencies to track down additional individuals still at large.
The Bodija blast—triggered by illegally stored explosives—killed several residents, levelled buildings and caused extensive damage across the popular Ibadan neighbourhood.
