About N50b properties lost in Ibadan explosion as govt ends rescue operation… 

About N50 billion worth of properties may have been lost and reduced to rubble after last Tuesday’s explosion in Ibadan, Oyo State, which killed five persons, injured 77 and rendered thousands homeless, some estate valuers have estimated.

Conservative estimates from estate valuers and cost consultants show that residents may have lost properties so much to the explosion. With about 230 houses claimed to have been affected by the explosion, valuers note that at N150 million per building, a conservative estimate of N34.5 billion would have been arrived at, while other critical infrastructure and vehicles would account for the balance.

This is coming after the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, disclosed at the weekend that a structural integrity test has been conducted on no fewer than 230 houses affected by the explosion.

While speaking at the Nigerian Society of Engineers investiture in Abuja, Makinde noted that the test included plans to resettle affected residents and avert a possible collapse of buildings.

The state government at the weekend disclosed that it has concluded rescue operations on the site of the explosion, while adding that the site is now being fumigated.

Barring last minute change, a Federal Government delegation will be visiting the Old Bodija scene of the explosion today. According to a source, the team will include the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu among other top government functionaries.

The visit will be for an on-the-spot assessment of the incident, its impact which will guide the Federal Government to making a decision on what form of support and palliative that would be made available for the victims and residents.

Preliminary investigations fingered dynamite stored up by illegal miners as the immediate cause of the explosion. As at press time, no arrest had been made as search and rescue efforts have been concluded.