Just in: Humanitarian Affairs minister still missing as Sanwo-Olu sets up N2bn crisis fund
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu Monday morning visited Abule-Ado, site of the gas cylinder explosion that rocked on Sunday morning in Amuwo-Odofin LGA.
Though there had not been any news of either an official statement or site visit by either the minister or any official of the newly created Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Governor Sanwo-Olu while addressing the mammoth crowd, expressed fears on the height of the destruction, saying he has never seen any gas explosion destruction of this magnitude.
He made it clear that the level of damages has grown beyond the capability of any state and announced the setting up of a N2bn Emergency Relief Fund with an initial state deposit of N250m and enjoined corporate citizens and well-wishers’ to come to the rescue of the state using the two bank accounts for the Fund.
Though the Governor was silent on why the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk had remained mute or failed to visit or send representatives to the site in the last 24 hours, he revealed that several governors had already reached out to him on the matter and are ready to give supports to victims.
Business Hilights recalls that at about 9.00am on Sunday, a blast that ripped havoc over about two to three kilometres radius hit the sleepy community of Abule Ado in Amuwo Odofin LGA of FESTAC Phase II in Lagos, leaving deaths and scares on scores of buildings with shattered louvers littering everywhere.
Still on the new Ministry and its official duties, there had been mixed reactions ever since the ministry was created by President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2019. Whereas many saw the ministry as another specific development arm for the Northern part of the country especially the North East, others argued that the scope of the ministry is beyond North East and therefore across the federation even though the Ministry always give issues concerning the region quick attention more than others.
The argument that the ministry is targeting the north was further punctured when the Minister herself visited the site of tanker fire at Onitsha in Anambra State with several relief materials few months ago.
However, it remains very hard as to why ministry had remained mute considering the magnitude of the disaster in Lagos since Sunday morning.
