The Ogun State Government has said schools shut in parts of Ijebu Ode following recurring gas emissions will soon reopen after the completion of safety assessments and consultations with relevant stakeholders.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbadu, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday during a state government organised town hall meeting on the gas emissions held at the Bisi Rodipe Hall, GRA, Ijebu Ode. He said the decision followed consultations with principals of affected schools and zonal education officers to ensure a safe return to academic activities.
The schools were closed after several students reportedly suffered discomfort, dizziness and breathing difficulties linked to recurring gas emissions, prompting authorities to seek urgent medical attention for the affected students and temporarily suspend academic activities.
Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Ola Oresanya, attributed the emissions to natural underground geological activities rather than traditional myths.
“There is what we call the Ifewara Zungeru trans Atlantic line that cuts across Mojoda, Ijebu Ode into Osun State through Zungeru in Niger State. That fault line has been there from time immemorial, and it has been found out that it connects to the areas where the gas emissions occurred. Coincidentally, all the affected schools are located in that area,” Oresanya said.
He explained that scientific investigations had identified the gases as mainly methane and sulphide escaping through underground geological fractures. He added that further studies were underway to determine whether the gases were thermogenic or methanogenic in origin and whether the area sits on significant natural gas deposits.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, urged residents to remain calm and comply with public health advisories.
She advised residents to cover their noses with wet handkerchiefs instead of face masks during gas emission incidents and to contact the state’s health emergency line whenever assistance was required.
The Head of the Department of Earth Sciences at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Prof. Philip Ikhane, who is leading the investigation, urged residents to avoid activities such as borehole drilling and quarry blasting, warning that such operations could worsen existing geological fault lines.
Some stakeholders at the meeting commended the state government’s response and appealed to residents and schools to make effective use of the health emergency helpline while investigations continue.
