Ibadan: FG awaits outcome of forensic investigation on explosion

By Isa Isawade

Federal 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 last week.

This was revealed in a press release on Sunday by Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development.

Tomori said that President Bola Tinubu had, immediately after the tragic incident, placed a telephone call to the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde in the presence of the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Dele Alake to commiserate with the governor, victims, and the good people of Oyo state.

This, he said, was followed by Alake’s statement of condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and other victims.

According to him, the Minister also commended Oyo State Government for mobilising relief response.

“The Ministry also deployed Mine Inspectorate officers to the scene of the explosion to join other security agencies to unravel the cause of the explosion.

“The Federal 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.

“Alongside the press statement personally signed by Dr. Alake to convey his deepest sympathies to the people of Oyo State, he has also been at the forefront of working with the security agencies to unearth the cause and put mechanisms in place to avert a recurrence.

“Last week Wednesday during the Federal Executive Council meeting, President Bola Tinubu took a step to holistically address insecurity around our 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 statement read in part.

He added that the committee held a maiden meeting on Friday and has been working round the clock to draw up strategies for 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,” Tomori said assuring Nigerians of a useful outcome of the investigation.