Ogun Gas Emissions: 95 Students Treated as Parents Demand Lasting Solution

Recurring gas emissions in Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo and Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, have raised concerns among parents after more students reportedly experienced breathing difficulties, dizziness, nausea, headaches and fainting.

The latest incident, which occurred on Wednesday, led to the hospitalisation of dozens of students and the temporary closure of some schools.

A staff member at the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode said that 95 students received treatment following the incident, with some requiring oxygen before being discharged.

One of the affected students returned to the hospital the following day after continuing to experience weakness and chest pain.

The recurring emissions have reportedly affected more than 300 students across multiple incidents between April and October 2026.

Government Investigates Source of Gas

Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said government investigations had detected methane and other gases in the affected areas.

According to him, preliminary findings suggest that the emissions may originate from underground geological formations, potentially involving fault lines. However, further investigations are ongoing to establish the precise source.

The state government is working with relevant agencies and experts, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Department of Geology at Olabisi Onabanjo University, to determine the cause.

Oresanya said additional technical assessments would help establish whether the gases originate from shallow underground reservoirs or deeper geological formations.

Parents Demand Lasting Solution

Parents have expressed fears about the possible long-term effects of repeated exposure, despite reports that affected students received medical attention and no deaths had been recorded in the incidents described.

Adetayo Adegbenro, secretary of the Ijebu-Ode Parents Forum, acknowledged that the government had provided free treatment for affected children but urged authorities to find a permanent solution.

He said the recurring incidents were making parents anxious about sending their children to school.

Residents have also reported detecting the unusual odour in markets and other public spaces, raising concerns beyond the affected schools.

Government Assures Residents

Oresanya said the government had installed gas sensors and established emergency response measures, including ambulance support, to respond when further emissions occur.

He advised residents experiencing symptoms after exposure to seek medical attention promptly and said the government would cover treatment costs, including at private hospitals.

The commissioner also warned residents against sealing their homes completely, explaining that methane can pose an explosion risk if it accumulates in enclosed spaces and encounters an ignition source.

Meanwhile, Kehinde Bello, General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, said preliminary findings pointed to a possible natural geological occurrence rather than sabotage or a pipeline leak.

As investigations continue, parents and residents are calling for a definitive explanation and effective measures to prevent further exposure, particularly among schoolchildren.