Ogun Gas Emissions: Students Hospitalised Again as Government Probes Fresh Incident
Several secondary school students in Ogun State have received medical attention following a fresh outbreak of unusual gaseous odour in Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo and Ago-Iwoye.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 21, disrupting academic activities in some schools and prompting the Ogun State Government to intensify investigations into the recurring phenomenon.
The affected students were taken to hospitals in the affected communities, with the government reporting that more than 30 students were attended to at the General Hospital in Ijebu-Ode.
According to the government’s assessment, the students presented symptoms including difficulty in breathing, stomach disorders and drowsiness. Some required oxygen to stabilise their conditions, while others received less intensive medical treatment.
Most of the students had been discharged by the time the assessment team left the hospital, although a few remained under medical observation.
The assessment team subsequently visited Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School and inspected the surrounding areas to determine the extent of the incident and investigate possible sources of the odour.
The odour was not limited to school premises. Residents in neighbouring communities also reported perceiving it, while the chairman of Ijebu North Local Government Area reportedly confirmed that it was noticed at the council secretariat.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission also sent a team to participate in the assessment and ongoing investigation.
The government has assured residents that the situation is under control, but investigations into the latest occurrence are continuing.
The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, had previously attributed similar incidents to underground gas emissions associated with geological formations and tectonic fault lines. However, the cause of the latest episode should be established through the ongoing technical investigation.
The recurring incidents have raised concerns about the safety of students and residents in the affected communities, particularly as similar occurrences have been reported since April 2026.
In June, the state government temporarily relocated students of Our Lady of Apostles Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode following an earlier chemical inhalation incident.
Governor Dapo Abiodun said at the time that preliminary findings had identified methane in the affected area. He also said the government was working with relevant technical institutions and regulatory authorities to establish the source of the emissions.
The latest incident has renewed questions about the effectiveness of measures taken so far to prevent further exposure, especially in schools.
The ongoing investigation is expected to provide further information about the source of the latest emissions, their potential health implications and the measures required to protect students and residents from another occurrence.
