From Our Correspondent
Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Wednesday, signed Executive Order 001 of 2024 on the safe handling of harmful substances.
TheNewsZenith reports that the executive is coming as a fallout of the Jan. 16 bomb explosion in Ibadan.
The explosion, which killed around seven persons and injured many others was reportedly caused by the illegal storing of mining explosives in an unauthorised area.
“The state now had the Executive Order as a law. This is on the safe handling and storage of harmful substances within Oyo State.
“We are doing this in light of the unfortunate incident at Bodija, where some people stored explosives in a residential area.
“So, dated today, 31st of January 2024, we have Executive Order, which is now a law,” Makinde said.
After signing the executive order, Makinde proceeded to Ground Zero, the site of the incident, where he monitored the progress of work there.
He told newsmen at the site that the state government “is taking all necessary actions to prevent a recurrence of the Jan. 16 explosion in the state”.
He said relevant government agencies have concluded the structural integrity tests on buildings around the site. The governor added that his administration would officially receive the report next week.
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Also speaking, the Attorney-General, Mr Biodun Aikomo said the law was not necessarily about explosives. The issue of explosives, he said, is on the exclusive legislative list.
According to Aikomo, there are many other harmful substances.
“If you store gas in a way that is irresponsible and can make heat trigger an explosion, it becomes harmful and would have the same dangerous consequences that are negative to human existence.
“So, what this Order is set out for is to say that the government, not being super-human, cannot know what people have stored in their respective homes.
“And any company or individual that has harmful substances stored in residential houses should notify the state government.
“This obligation takes effect immediately. Such companies or individuals must report within 72 hours to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security.
“After that, the Special Adviser will arrange for evacuation safely and decently, working with other law enforcement agencies,” he said.
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