The Nigerian Government has promised to make the report of the findings in the Ibadan explosion public as soon as technical and intelligence investigations are completed by the various agencies in charge.
It also vowed to ensure that justice is served, not only to the victims but also to the perpetrators and culprits, with an assurance that whatever assistance the report of findings recommends would be given to the Oyo State Government.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake gave the assurance, after paying a courtesy call on the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
Alake also visited the explosion site and the survivors still receiving treatment at the University College Hospital, to commiserate with them, their families and loved ones.
Alake was received at the Governor’s Office by Governor Makinde, who led him into a private meeting held behind closed doors and also used the opportunity to conduct the Minister round some parts of the office that was affected by the explosion.
Forensic report
The Minister noted that no timeline could be put on when the forensic report would be ready because it is a technical thing which requires a lot of technological gadgets and apparatus, and considering the speed with which work had started on it, the report would be ready earlier than expected.
He promised that no categorical statement would be made on the incident until all reports of investigations are submitted.
The Minister said; “But of course we are not going to sit on it. This is not a kind of report that anybody will sit on, and this is not a kind of government that will sit on any panel report or any investigative analysis. It will be public document and we will be kept abreast of it.”
Alake disclosed he was in the state as a culmination of the establishment of acknowledgement of the Nigerian Government on what the Oyo State Governor and government has done, which he described as very remarkable.
He said that the President, as well as all other persons, were impressed as to the speed and level of response of the state government to the incident.
Alake said: “The President put a phone call to him to commend him and sympathise with him and the people of Oyo State as well as the victims. The President also issued a statement after expressing his own sentiments and I also did. Nobody wishes anybody any disaster but wish that our people will respond commendably to any unfortunate situation. Not even unfortunate, but any situation at all.”
He affirmed that the Nigerian Government would allow the technical and intelligence agencies investigating the matter to conclude their forensic investigation before making any categorical, verifiable and authentic statement on the issue
According to him, all the corollary affairs and issues attending would be answered at the end of the investigation and everybody would be kept well informed.
In his brief remarks, Governor Makinde appealed to the people of the state to be patient with the government because it is doing everything within its powers to ensure that people actually get looked after.
He said the government would ”wait for the report of the integrity test on the structures before deciding on what to do with the affected buildings.”
The Governor disclosed that the government was looking at extending the temporary accommodation provided for the victims, as well as enhancing the safety and security of the place till the completion of forensic test and integrity test.
He said; “I don’t think we have faced this kind of calamity around here before. So people should be patient with us because we are doing everything within the powers of the state government to ensure that people actually get looked after.”
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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