The Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has initiated an emergency relief fund for the victims of the explosion which occurred last Sunday.
Describing the level of destruction in Abule Ado and Ado Soba as “monumental”, Sanwo-Olu said the resources to be appropriated in helping the victims to rebuild their lives were beyond what a single Government could undertake on its own.
He said: “The process of rebuilding this place is beyond what the Government, either at the national level or state, can also undertake on its own. Given the level of destruction, I am immediately setting up what I have called an Abule Ado/Ado Soba Emergency Relief Fund. It is a N2 billion relief fund and the state government will immediately be putting N250 million in that fund. Three banks have opened accounts for the Fund.
“Setting up this Fund is to give everybody the opportunity to be part of rebuilding this place and to be able to donate into it. The utilisation of funds, which will be headed by the Deputy Governor, will also be part of the responsibility that the fact-finding committee will be saddled with. To show our commitment to helping the victims recover, we have three bank account numbers already.
“Polaris Bank with the account number 4030017510, and name Abule Ado Emergency Relief Fund. Also, Zenith Bank, with the same account name the account number 1017184516 and Guaranty Trust (GT) Bank, with account number 0568615688. Well-meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations that wish to support us on this journey have any of these three banks to donate.”
The relief funds, Sanwo-Olu said, would help the Lagos Government to offset the victims’ medical bills and re-settle displaced people before rebuilding activities start.
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari later is also to seek the Federal Government’s support and cooperation in dealing with the situation.