By Adeyinka Adeniran
Oyo state government on Monday said it has spent to the tune of N160million on the accommodation and feeding alone for the victims of Bodija explosion who were immediately accommodated at the hotels.
The government said, since the January 16th incident, no fewer than 38 of the victims are still residing in various hotels across the capital city.
This is in addition to the N2million spent weekly, amounting to N16 million in eight weeks spent on security operatives to protect the property left behind by the victims.
The Commissioner for Information and aid Civic Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade made the disclosure in a statement on Monday.
He said, since the explosion, government has been spending between N15million and N20million weekly on accommodation and feeding for the victims in the past eight weeks.
He debunked the insinuation that the state government has abandoned the welfare of victims of the explosion, noting that the rumour is unfair and unnecessary.
He said “Ever since the January 16 explosion, government has been spending between N15million and N20million 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 further explained that the government has taken care of a medical bill of over N17million 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.
On the rumour that some of the victims were ejected from their hotels, Prince Oyelade 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.
