Ibadan Explosion: Nigeria awaits outcome of Forensic Investigation – Minister

The Nigerian Government is awaiting the outcome of the forensic investigation ordered to ascertain the actual cause of the tragic explosion that rocked Ibadan, Oyo State capital in South-western part of the country last week.

This was made known in a press statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Segun Tomori.

He said the Nigerian Government is now waiting for the outcome of forensic investigations that will determine the real cause of the blast, the explosives type that triggered it and the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident that led to loss of lives and properties.

Mr. Tomori also stated that the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake assures Nigerians that the Government is committed to addressing challenges from the root, hence its resolve to await the outcome of painstaking forensic investigations on the Ibadan explosion before making a definite pronouncement.

The Minister believes that in sensitive situations like this, the security agencies should be allowed to do their job, as against acting on speculations. That way, the people are better informed, culprits can be brought to book, and concerted efforts can be put in place to avoid a recurrence.

It would be recalled that the Ministry of Solid Minerals deployed Mine Inspectorate officers to the scene of the explosion to join other security agencies to unravel the cause of the explosion.

On Wednesday, 17th January 2024 during the Federal Executive Council meeting, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took a step to holistically address insecurity around the nation’s natural resources by constituting an inter-ministerial committee led by Dr. Alake to come up with a blueprint to effectively and efficiently secure solid minerals, forests, and marine economy, which constitutes Nigeria’s natural resources.

The committee held a maiden meeting on Friday 19th January and has been working to draw up strategies of achieving the presidential mandate. In the coming days, there will be an expanded meeting with heads of security agencies, which will assist the committee in getting the requisite inputs that will guide it in turning in a robust report to the President.