Muyiwa Bamgbose, President, Bodija Estate Residents Association (BERA), on Wednesday revealed that about nine persons are still missing in the aftermath the January, 16, explosion at Adeyi in Bodija, Ibadan, the state capital.
The state government said five people died, 77 sustained varying degrees of injuries, and 58 houses were and unspecifisd vehicles were destroyed during the blast.
According to Bamgbose who spoke with journalists in Ibadan,the figures were arrived at based on our findings while collating the data of the residents and number of the affected houses.
While speaking at a consultative forum, organized by Bodija residents, at No 18, Arigidi street, Bodija, Ibadan, the President said.
“Is like eight or nine persons that have been missing. We brought out the map of the street, and we are trying to account for house by house, that’s how we can actually get accurate figures. If a person was seen yesterday and you can’t find him today, then you know you need to get worried.”
He however stated that a lot of people paid for their medicals on treatment received at different hospitals.
The president said, “some people didn’t even go to designated hospitals, they just went somewhere to treat themselves. I must also confess that some of the hospitals were treating people initially without even recording, there are so many people, they were just giving them first aids.
“The hospitals contributed, they treated people without asking for money and then some people that could afford them took themselves somewhere, maybe private hospitals.
On hotels lodged in by some families following the incident.
Bamgbose noted that there are some people whose families paid in the hotels because there isn’t proper organization.
“If you are a decent person and they tell you that the government is going to pay for your accommodation. Our fear is that even government may get end up been short changed, how do you know who stay where? Yes, it was a chaotic situation but again there should be some kind of order and process, so that’s why some people will not wait for anybody, they just take care of themselves if they can afford it. A lot of people have taken care of themselves,” he said.
Oyo state government, he pointed out , has shown a great willingness with people working overnight without sleeping.
“Even the Federal Government.
you will be surprised, they have taken it so seriously, all the security apparatus, NEMA, working with the state EMA, everybody has collaborated l,” he added.
“Well, this is a first time that we will record this kind of incident in Oyo State, we never had anything like this before and I must first and foremost appreciate the spirit of the government. The government is definitely concerned, there is a difference between the will and ability but if you are willing then ability can come in later”.
The President said “I think we still need to learn from this experience where are we failing one of the things I discussed in Bodija is where are the gaps? What are the things we didn’t do right that we can improve? We are not praying for another one to happen, but it may not be a blast, it may be another thing, emergencies can always occur, it could flood or whatever. So, how do we respond to emergencies?
Governor, Seyi Makinde last weekend presented the preliminary report of the explosion to President Bola Tinubu.
