The Ogun State House of Assembly has summoned relevant government officials, agencies and a road construction contractor over public safety concerns arising from a recent market fire, persistent traffic congestion along a major highway and the reported leak of a suspected gaseous substance that led to the hospitalisation of schoolchildren in Ijebu-Ode and its environs.
The invitations, issued by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, are aimed at addressing the concerns and examining measures to prevent further incidents across the state.
The Assembly invited the Head of Fire Services in Ogun State and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, to appear before it on Friday, October 23, 2026, to discuss the operations, facilities and condition of fire stations across the state.
The invitation followed a Matter of Urgent Public Importance raised by the lawmaker representing Ijebu East State Constituency, Hon. Waliu Owode, over a recent fire outbreak at Itele Market, which destroyed property and affected the livelihoods of traders.
Presenting the matter during plenary, Owode lamented that the affected traders and other residents of his constituency had repeatedly appealed to the government and relevant agencies for assistance.
He stressed the need for improved fire service operations and facilities to strengthen emergency response and reduce losses arising from fire outbreaks.
In a related development, the Assembly has invited the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, the Comptroller of Works of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and the contractor handling the Abeokuta-Sango-Ota Expressway project to appear before it on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
The officials are expected to address persistent traffic congestion along the Brewery, Ita-Oshin and Idi-Ori sections of the road.
The invitation followed concerns raised by the member representing Abeokuta North State Constituency, Hon. Babatunde Tella, who spoke under personal explanation during plenary.
Tella attributed part of the traffic congestion to the large roundabouts along the affected axis, calling for their reduction to create more road space for motorists and improve traffic flow.
The lawmaker said the recurring gridlock, particularly during peak periods, required urgent attention to ease movement and reduce the difficulties faced by road users.
Meanwhile, the Assembly has invited the Commissioner for Environment and his team, the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency and other relevant agencies to appear before it on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, over the reported leak of a suspected gaseous substance that resulted in the hospitalisation of some schoolchildren in Ijebu-Ode and neighbouring communities.
The invitation followed a report by the member representing Odogbolu State Constituency, Hon. Lukman Adeleye, who noted that similar incidents had previously occurred in the area.
While commending the relevant agencies for their efforts in managing the earlier incidents, Adeleye called for closer engagement between the agencies and lawmakers to address the recurring problem.
He said the meeting would provide an opportunity for the agencies to explain the measures being implemented to prevent a recurrence and identify areas where additional government support might be required.
