The Ogun State Government has pledged to reimburse parents and guardians who paid for medical treatment at private hospitals for pupils affected by the latest gas-emission incident in Ijebuland, as it assumes responsibility for the medical expenses arising from the occurrence.
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 incident on Wednesday, October 21, which reportedly left more than 100 pupils needing medical attention after exposure to a strong chemical odour.
The latest occurrence is part of a series of gas-emission incidents reported in Ijebuland since April 2026. On April 1, at least 30 students and one teacher were hospitalised after a similar incident at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Ijebu-Ode. The government subsequently ordered the school’s closure and provided free medical treatment for affected persons.
On May 15, another incident affected more than 100 students and teachers across several schools, while 69 students were hospitalised following a third reported occurrence on June 3. Although preliminary investigations detected methane in affected areas, the source of the recurring emissions remained under investigation.
The October 21 incident, reported across Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo and Ago-Iwoye, affected more than 100 pupils, some of whom reportedly experienced breathing difficulties, drowsiness and fainting. The recurring incidents have raised concerns about the safety of schools and surrounding communities.
Oresanya described the latest occurrence as a public health emergency, stressing that the government would not abandon families to bear the financial burden of treatment arising from the environmental incident.
“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 who received treatment at government hospitals were attended to at the state’s expense, adding that the medical intervention provided to them included oxygen administration before they were 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,” Oresanya said.
He further clarified that parents who independently took their children to private hospitals would not be excluded from the government’s financial support, provided they submitted their bills through the designated channel.
“Those who went to private hospitals, fine. If you bring your bill, the government will pay,” he assured.
Oresanya disclosed that the local government had established a control room or emergency room where affected parents could submit their medical bills for reimbursement.
“The local government has opened a kind of control room. You take it there, the government will pay,” the commissioner said.
He added, “The government will refund because public health in Nigeria is a government responsibility. We are not shying away from that reality.”
While speaking, Oresanya confirmed that preliminary air-quality analysis had identified methane in samples collected around the affected locations, while the government was working with researchers from Olabisi Onabanjo University and relevant federal technical agencies to investigate the geological source of the gas.
According to the commissioner:
“The Department of Health Sciences of Olabisi Onabanjo University have been at the forefront of this investigation. And so far, so good, from the investigation carried out by the university, we have shown that we did what we call the aeromagnetic investigation in that area, and the ground magnetic survey also.”
The commissioner said the investigation remained ongoing, noting that officials 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 also assured residents that the government was taking the matter seriously and would continue to provide updates as the investigation progressed.
The latest reimbursement commitment is expected to provide relief to families who incurred medical expenses while seeking treatment for pupils affected by the incident, even as authorities continue efforts to establish the source of the recurring emissions and prevent further occurrences.
