Govt Calls For Calm Over Gaseous Odour In Ijebu Area, Says Situation Is Under Control
Ogun State Government has again reassured residents in Ijebu area that the anxious situation arising from the unusual gaseous odour reported in parts of the area is under control, as investigations continue into the incident that sent scores of secondary school students to hospitals on Wednesday.
The government’s assurance came amid reports that students in Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo and Ago-Iwoye were affected by the offensive odour, with several requiring medical attention.
More than 30 students were attended to at the General Hospital during an assessment visit by government officials, while some affected students from other schools were reportedly taken to other hospitals for treatment.
Medical findings from the students attended to at the hospital indicated symptoms including shortness of breath, stomach disorders and drowsiness, among others. While some required oxygen to stabilise their conditions, others received less intensive medical attention.
As of the time the assessment team left the hospital, most of the students had been discharged, while a few remained under medical observation.
The team subsequently visited Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School for further assessment and investigation, including checks on the surrounding environment.
Findings from the field assessment indicated that the unusual odour was not confined to school premises, as residents in neighbouring areas also reported experiencing it. The Chairman of Ijebu North Local Government Area was among those who confirmed perceiving the odour, including at the council secretariat.
A team from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) also arrived at the scene to participate in the assessment and investigation.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over recurring episodes of offensive gaseous odour in the Ijebu axis, particularly in Ijebu-Ode, where similar occurrences have been reported since April 2026.
The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, had previously attributed the recurring emissions to a natural geological occurrence involving underground gas emissions associated with geological and tectonic fault lines, ruling out sabotage or a gas pipeline leak as the cause, according to an earlier report.
However, with the latest incident affecting multiple communities and prompting the hospitalisation of students, further investigation is expected to establish the source of the odour and determine the factors responsible for the reported symptoms.
The government’s ongoing field assessment is expected to provide additional information on the incident, including its geographical spread and possible environmental implications.
Residents are expected to remain calm while the relevant authorities continue their investigations and monitor the condition of the affected students.
