The Oyo State Government has clarified why Governor Seyi Makinde did not publicly announce the receipt of a N30 billion intervention fund from the Federal Government after the January 2024 Bodija explosion, explaining that special intervention funds are tied to the budgeting process and not typically announced upon receipt.
In a statement on Thursday, January 1 2026, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, disclosed that the N30 billion released in November 2024 remains untouched in a dedicated state account, pending the balance of N20 billion from the total N50 billion approved for reconstruction.
The clarification follows recent claims by former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, who alleged during a televised interview that Makinde had received and spent N50 billion in federal support without public disclosure. Makinde’s media aide had earlier confirmed that while N50 billion was approved, only N30 billion was disbursed.
“Out of the approved N50bn, the Federal Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, released N30bn to Oyo State on November 4, 2024,” Oyelade stated. “As of Thursday, December 31, 2025, the N30bn remained untouched in the Oyo State infrastructure account with the First Bank. Interested members of the public may verify this information with the bank.”
The commissioner also informed that the funds are held in the Oyo State Government Infrastructure Support Account (No. 2045199879) at FirstBank of Nigeria, and that the state is awaiting the outstanding N20 billion before commencing the planned reconstruction of affected areas in Old Bodija. He added that the remaining amount has been withheld by relevant federal agencies without official explanation.
The state government maintained that its approach aligns with standard fiscal procedures, where such funds are integrated into the budget and expenditure is reported through official channels rather than immediate public announcements.
