In response to the tragic explosion that occurred in Ibadan on Tuesday night, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has taken swift action by establishing an investigative panel to scrutinize the handling of explosives and identify any legal violations.
During a meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, informed State House Correspondents that the preliminary findings associated the explosion with mining explosives allegedly stored by illegal miners in the vicinity.
“The Governor of Oyo State mentioned that preliminary investigations suggest the presence of explosives in the area, owned by illegal miners. Additionally, there is another report suggesting a gas explosion,” stated Minister Badaru.
He further revealed that an investigative team had been dispatched to the site of the tragedy to ascertain the cause. The proactive approach taken by the Council involves setting up a committee to examine potential breaches in the control of explosives laws.
“The committee was established to assess the laws, identify any breaches, and propose solutions. It aims to determine if there is a systematic issue regarding the handling of explosives in various parts of the country,” explained the Minister.
Highlighting the stringent regulations governing the movement, storage, and ownership of explosives, Minister Badaru emphasized that any deviations from these laws would be thoroughly investigated and addressed.
“There are strict laws on the movement, storage, and ownership of explosives, and that is being monitored. If there is any breakdown, we will find out and deal with it,” he concluded.
The investigative committee is expected to shed light on the circumstances leading to the Ibadan explosion and recommend measures to prevent such incidents in the future.