The Federal Government, through the ministry of Solid Minerals, has said it was waiting for the outcome of the forensic investigation ordered to ascertain the actual cause of the tragic explosion that rocked Ibadan, Oyo State capital last week.
Dele Alake, the minister of Solid Minerals Development, following the incident, had deployed mine inspectorate officers to the scene of the explosion to join other security agencies in unraveling 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 the loss of lives and properties,” Alake said in a statement issued on Sunday.
He disclosed that President Bola Tinubu, in an effort to address insecurity around the nation’s natural resources had inaugurated an inter-ministerial committee charged with the mandate 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 last 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,” he said.
The minister maintained that the Federal Government was committed to addressing challenges from the root, hence its resolve to await the outcome of the 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,” the statement read.
