Ogun Says Methane Emission Situation Under Control

The Ogun State Government has assured residents that the situation arising from unusual methane emissions reported in parts of the Ijebu axis is under control, as investigations continue into an incident that sent scores of secondary school students to hospitals on Wednesday.

The assurance was contained in a statement issued in Abeokuta by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade.

The government’s statement followed reports that students in Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo and Ago-Iwoye were affected by an offensive odour, with several requiring medical attention.

According to Akinmade, more than 30 students received treatment at the General Hospital during an assessment visit by government officials, while some affected students from other schools were reportedly taken to other hospitals.

Medical findings from the students treated at the hospital indicated symptoms including shortness of breath, stomach disorders and drowsiness. While some required oxygen to stabilise their conditions, others received less intensive medical attention.

Akinmade said most of the students had been discharged by the time the assessment team left the hospital, 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 limited 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 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.

In an earlier report, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, attributed the recurring emissions to a natural geological occurrence involving underground gas emissions associated with geological and tectonic fault lines. He ruled out sabotage or a gas pipeline leak as the cause.

However, the latest incident, which affected multiple communities and led to students requiring hospital treatment, has prompted further investigation to establish the source of the odour and determine the factors responsible for the reported symptoms.

The government’s field assessment is expected to provide additional information on the incident, including its geographical spread and possible environmental implications.

Residents have been urged to remain calm as the relevant authorities continue their investigations and monitor the condition of the affected students.