Ikeja bomb victims say govt unfaithful to promise

Posted by admin Headlines, Lagos Monday, January 19th, 2015

Some victims of the Ikeja bomb explosion of January 27, 2002, have decried the neglect of 84 families who have yet to be compensated by both the state and federal governments.

The victims wondered what became of the funds donated to the survivors by local and international donors, adding that the government had abandoned them, 13 years after the tragic incident.

A statement by the victims and signed by their Chairman, Nurudeen Oyegbemi; Secretary, Abayomi Ajibade, and a former chairman, Majekodunmi Olaniran, appealed for the redemption of pledges by the government.

It said, “The crux of the matter currently agitating our minds is that 84 genuine victims’ families have been left behind and they have yet to be compensated by the Lagos State Government in line with its promise.

“Furthermore, in spite of several letters written to the state and federal governments reminding them of this state of things, we have yet to receive any positive response.

“Although they said the token gesture given to the then 70 victims was on compassionate ground, what then happened to the huge sums of money and material donations collected from international and local donors on behalf of the 2002 bomb victims’ families during the tenure of Chief Bola Tinubu, the then governor of Lagos State?

“All we are saying is for the state government to pay due attention to the rest genuine 84 victims’ family and compensate us without any delay.”

The statement added that the victims’ families had sought the legal help of Lagos-based lawyer, Femi Falana, who wrote the Federal Ministry of Defence and copied other relevant government agencies.

It said after several reminders were written, no reply was sent.

The group acknowledged the payment of N500, 000 for dead persons, and N250, 000 for missing persons, by a Federal Government committee as an “instant relief package” pending the conclusion of arrangement for adequate compensation for victims.

It also added that the state government paid a compensation of N250, 000 to 70 families.

The statement said, “The questions we are asking now are; have they concluded that the assistant/relief funds earlier given to members should stand as final compensation? Has the matter been swept under the carpet completely? Has the government adopted the use of delay tactics in order to succeed in reducing the numbers of beneficiaries as many of the next-of-kins have died?”

-Punch

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