The Ogun State Government has pledged to reimburse parents and guardians who paid for medical treatment at private hospitals for pupils affected by the recurring gas-emission incident in Ijebuland, assuring families that they would not be left to bear the financial burden of the emergency.
The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, gave the assurance on Thursday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, following the latest incident on Wednesday, October 21, which reportedly left more than 100 pupils requiring medical attention after exposure to a strong chemical odour.
Oresanya described the incident as a public health emergency, stressing that the government had a responsibility to protect residents and provide necessary medical support to those affected.
“This is a public health emergency and it is part of the major component of the social contract that the government has to handle with the people,” he said.
The commissioner explained that pupils treated at government hospitals received medical attention at the state’s expense, including oxygen administration, before being discharged.
“So, all the students that were treated were on the bill of the government. All of them were taken to public hospitals. And all they did was to give them oxygen and they went home,” he said.
He, however, clarified that parents who opted to take their children to private hospitals would also qualify for reimbursement, provided they submitted their medical bills through the designated channel.
“Those who went to private hospitals, fine. If you bring your bill, the government will pay,” Oresanya assured.
He disclosed that the local government had established a control room where parents and guardians could submit their medical bills for processing and reimbursement.
“The local government has opened a kind of control room. You take it there, the government will pay,” he said.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Oresanya added: “The government will refund because public health in Nigeria is a government responsibility. We are not shying away from that reality.”
The latest incident is part of a series of gas-emission occurrences reported in Ijebuland since April 2026, raising concerns over the safety of schools and surrounding communities.
On April 1, at least 30 students and a teacher were hospitalised following a similar incident at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Ijebu-Ode. The state government subsequently ordered the school’s closure and provided free medical treatment for affected persons.
Another incident on May 15 affected more than 100 students and teachers across several schools, while 69 students were reportedly hospitalised following a third occurrence on June 3.
The latest incident, reported across Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo and Ago-Iwoye, reportedly affected more than 100 pupils, some of whom experienced breathing difficulties, drowsiness and fainting.
Although preliminary investigations detected methane in samples collected from affected areas, authorities have yet to establish the precise source of the recurring emissions.
Oresanya said the state government was working with researchers from Olabisi Onabanjo University and relevant federal technical agencies to determine the geological origin of the gas and establish the circumstances behind the repeated occurrences.
According to him, the university’s Department of Health Sciences had been at the forefront of the investigation, conducting aeromagnetic investigations and ground magnetic surveys in the affected areas.
He explained that investigators were examining whether the gas originated from a shallow underground reservoir or a deeper geological formation.
“They are already on top of the situation and they are carrying out the deep-rooted investigation. So, where is that gas? Is it coming from a shallow reservoir, or is it a deep-rooted reservoir?” he asked.
The commissioner assured residents that the government would continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as investigations progressed.
