News

Senator Alli Seeks FG Intervention over Ibadan Explosion

By Web News 292

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Senator Sharafadeen Alli (APC- Oyo South) has sponsored a motion aimed at seeking support for victims of the recent Ibadan explosion and forestalling future occurrences.

It would be recalled that a horrific bomb explosion occurred on Tuesday, January 16 around 7.44 pm in the serene neighbourhood of Dejo Oyelese Street, Bodija Estate, Ibadan.

The explosion was suspected to have been caused by the negligent handling of mining explosives allegedly stored in a private residence, resulting in loss of lives, extensive property damage, and displacement of residents.

No fewer than five lives were lost and over 77 individuals sustained severe burns, necessitating medical treatment.

Despite the prompt response of the Oyo State Police Command and other security agencies, the perpetrators behind this heinous act are yet to be apprehended.

Senator Alli in his motion tagged ‘Motion of Urgent National Importance’ urged the Federal Government, in collaboration with the Oyo State government, to establish a committee to investigate the cause of the explosion and propose preventive measures. 

Alli urged the National Assembly to direct the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) to provide relief materials to affected victims.

He also urged the National Assembly to call on the Oyo State government to support the reconstruction efforts and conduct integrity tests on structures in the vicinity.

The lawmaker called on the National Assembly to send a high-powered delegation to assess the damage firsthand, while paying a condolence visit to Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba (Dr.) Lekan Balogun and the Oyo State Government. 

Meanwhile, Alli’s motion and four other motions bordering on insecurity were merged into a collective motion of the 109 senators as a motion of national Importance. 

The other motions sponsored by some senators bordered on the spate of killings, kidnappings, banditry and robberies across the country. 

Recognising the gravity of the situation, the Senate observed a minute silence in honour of the departed souls.

In solidarity with the people of Nigeria, the Senate called on the Federal Government and Security Chiefs in the country, to intensify efforts at addressing the incessant security challenges.

It also resolved to invite security chiefs to discuss how the burning national issues would be addressed.

The motion serves as a testament to the Senate’s commitment to addressing the needs of the affected community and preventing future occurrences of such tragic incidents.

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Religion

Cleric Condemns Ibadan Explosion, Calls for prayers

By Web News 545

By Olawale Asake

The District Superintendent of Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, Ori Oke Aanu, Ojoo Ibadan, Oyo State, Pastor Isaiah Alade, popularly known as ” Omo Woli” has described the explosion that rocked Ibadan on Tuesday as unfortunate and devastating.

The Cleric who stated this while speaking with Radio Nigeria on the incident, noted that the explosion was more worrisome, considering the efforts of the Oyo state government to fight insecurity and make the State safe for residents and visitors.

He commiserated with the people and government of Oyo State, particularly the families of the victims who lost their loved ones to the man-caused disaster at the Bodija Estate of Ibadan, calling on Governor Seyi Makinde in collaboration with the Federal Government to get to the root of the incident, by fishing out people that were responsible for the explosion and make them face the wrath of the law so as to serve as deterrent to others.

“The explosion in a serene, peaceful and residential area of Ibadan is very disheartening. My heavy heart goes out to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, residents of the ancient city, especially the families that lost their loved ones” the Cleric said.

Pastor Alade who commiserated with the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde over the incident, prayed God to continue to protect the State and strengthen the government in its efforts at making the State a more secured place.

He commended the Governor for swiftly responded to the incident and put measures in place to assist the residents who have been dislodged as a result of the issue.

Pastor Alade condemned the explosion in its entirety, saying, while the government is putting policies and Programmes in place to ensure socio-economic development of the State, some people through their nefarious and selfishness activities, chose to wreak havoc and brought pains on the innocent people in the State.

The Cleric called on religious leaders and Christians to continue praying for peace and protection, adding that, God will continue to listen to the voice of His people who diligently seek Him.

Crime

Miners NEC Pledges Support for Initiative to Unravel Perpetrators of Bodija Explosion

By Web News 637

By Iyabo Adebisi

The Board of Trustees and the National Executive Council of Miners

Association of Nigeria has commiserated with the government and the people of Oyo State over the unfortunate incident of an explosion occasioned by illegally stockpiling of explosives in a residential property in a highbrow old Bodija GRA of Ibadan metropolis. 

In a statement signed by the National President, Dele Ayanleke and the National Publicity, Secretary, Fatai Jimoh expresses sympathy to the direct victims of this dastardly act. 

The statement appreciates Governor Seyi Makinde’s prompt response to the situation. 

It pledges support to all initiatives aimed at unravelling the perpetrators of this crime, with the view to bringing them to book to serve as deterrents to other criminal elements in the association. 

It also calls members, across our various chapters, to be wary of those they partner with, and to expose all shady characters, parading themselves as operators in the sector, to the appropriate authorities to save the sector from every form of illegality and criminality.

“While we pray for the repose of the souls of the departed in eternal bliss, it is also our prayers that God will uphold their dependents, heal the injured and restore all material losses”.

“Miners Association of Nigeria hereby expresses our deep appreciation to His

Excellency, Engr Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, The Executive Governor of Oyo State, for his prompt response to this emergency by facilitating immediate succour to the victims”.

“We are not less grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his directive to the National Emergency Management Agency, to provide all necessary reliefs to the victims”

“On our part, we hereby pledge our support to all initiatives aimed at unravelling the perpetrators of this crime, with the view to bringing them to book to serve as deterrents to other criminal elements among us, who paint operators in the Solid Minerals Sector in a bad light”.

“We further affirm our commitments to the continued collaboration with all tiers of government, their agencies and all stakeholders to end all forms of illegality in the Solid Minerals value-chain, to bequeath to the present and future generations of our nation, a sector that can provide the much-desired pivot for the diversification and broadening of our national economy”.

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News

Ibadan Explosion: IAWPA Calls for Rejigging Security Architecture

By Web News 475

By Nashirdeen Sherifdeen

The International Association of World Peace Advocates, IAWPA, Oyo State has condoled the victims of the destructive explosion at Bodija, Ibadan, noting that the grieving incident calls for reviving the state security architecture and intelligence gathering.

A statement in Ibadan by the Oyo State Director, IAWPA, Ambassador Musa Alongbija prays for the repose of the departed souls, quick health recovery for the injured and divine compensation for those who lost their properties in the unfortunate blast.

Dr Alongbija sympathized with the victims, their relations, the people and the Oyo state government over the unbearable disaster, stating thoughts and prayers are with all the concerned, as he also prayed against recurrence.

While commending Governor Seyi Makinde for quick emergency response, including moving the displaced to hotels as a respite for psychological stability, and setting up an emergency hub, stressed the initiatives were the right steps in the right direction.

Oyo State Director IAWPA urged security agencies to step up actionable intelligence gathering to discover other possible storages of such explosive devices within residential areas to put an end to needless carnage and loss of valuable properties.

Dr Alongbija also called for an investigation of means of importing the explosives by terrorists and foreign miners into Nigeria.

He advocated workable collaboration between officials of the state government and the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA for a well-coordinated delivery of relief materials to the victims as soon as possible.

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Human Angle

FG Investigates Ibadan Explosion

By Web News 529

By Abdullah Bello ( Abuja)

The Federal Government has instituted an investigation into the recent bomb blast in Ibadan, Oyo State, to unravel the circumstances around it and the perpetrators of it.

The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru, stated this in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the Federal Executive Council, FEC, discussions on the incident.

Launching an official investigation into the bomb explosion in Ibadan is expected to douse the tension generated by so many confusing theories. 

The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru, said the meeting sympathised with victims of the blast, promising to find ways of preventing a recurrence. 

On kidnapping situations in Abuja and other parts of the country, the Minister said security agencies had been directed to pursue the kidnappers and deal with them for good.

“The bandits are fleeing and they are getting shelters around these areas and the security agencies are working very hard to push them out, block the movement and finish this thing once and for all.Mr President called us and all the service chiefs to discuss this issue. So concerted efforts is being done by security and stop it immediately. The President has given us the marching order and all the support that we need and what the security agencies need to end this thing”, he said. 

He said the President had set up a committee, comprising security agencies and relevant Ministries to look into ways of protecting the environment, mining areas, and the forests from degradation, illegal mining, and the control of ethics in the mining sector. 

Also briefing newsmen, the Minister of Health, Professor Ali Pate, said FEC had adopted decisions to regulate the health sector to prevent arbitrary price increases in drugs and equipment, give Nigerians easy access to health facilities, and deal with the acute human resource shortage in the sector. 

“Prices of pharmaceuticals have escalated and many entities have withdrawn and some of the local manufacturers in Nigeria are struggling. Mr. President intends that we begin to take steps to enable the local manufacturers to survive and to deliver the basic commodities that are key to saving their lives, and he directed that the Attorney General of the Federation work with us to come up with an executive order, which is the mechanism through which he will act, giving the concern that he has that many Nigerians are suffering from the cost of pharmaceuticals”, the Minister explained. 

Professor Pate said the President had directed the continuation of the government’s funding of regulatory health professionals to ensure that only qualified personnel would attend to patients. 

He also said President Tinubu had directed that the process of replacing health workers be henceforth relegated to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, thereby bypassing the Office of the Head of Service. 

The aim, according to him, is to reduce hurdles along the way and make replacements fast. 

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News

Ibadan Explosion: Osun Speaker Commiserates with Gov. Makinde

By Web News 382

By Mojisola Oladele

There is a need for inter-agency collaboration from the government to unravel the circumstances behind the explosion to prevent further recurrence.

The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Prince Adewale Egbedun, stated this while sending a commiseration message to the government and people of Oyo State on the tragic explosion that rocked the Bodija area of Ibadan, and other parts of the city, the state capital on Tuesday night.

Prince Egbedun stated this in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Mr. Olamide Tiamiyu made available to Newsmen in Osogbo.

Describing the explosion which claimed lives and destroyed public and private property as unfortunate, the Osun Speaker sympathized with the families of those affected by the blast.

He called for calm amongst Oyo Residents as the State government investigates the cause of the explosion and put necessary measures in place to alleviate the impacts of the blast.

Prince Egbedun noted that insecurity has risen to feverish heights in different parts of the country and remarked that Nigerians needed to be extra careful in the usage of machinery and gadgets that could trigger explosions of several kinds.

The Speaker prayed to God to grant succour to the families of those who lost their loved ones and property as a result of the unfortunate incident.

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