Ogun Shuts Schools After Gas Leak

The Ogun State Government has shut several schools in Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo after more than 100 pupils were reportedly hospitalised following exposure to an offensive gaseous substance on Wednesday. 

The affected pupils were taken to the State Hospital, Ijebu-Ode; the General Hospital, Ijebu-Igbo; and other healthcare facilities for treatment.

Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode and Itamerin Comprehensive High School in Ago-Iwoye were among the schools most affected.

Videos shared online showed pupils collapsing and being taken to hospitals after inhaling the substance, which the state government had previously identified as methane.

A teacher at one of the affected schools, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said pupils and staff began experiencing breathing difficulties at about 10 am, with some eventually losing consciousness.

The teacher said the situation became increasingly alarming, forcing some schools in Ago-Iwoye to close around 11 am.

The worst-hit schools included Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School and Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode, the teacher added, noting that some parents rushed to the schools to pick up their children due to uncertainty about the source of the emissions.

The teacher also raised concerns that the emissions had recurred since April, exposing pupils and school staff to repeated health risks.

“The pupils and staff started inhaling the gas and began to have difficulty breathing. Some of them fainted and were rushed to hospitals,” the teacher said.

“The worst-hit schools include Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School and Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode. Some parents who heard about the incident also came to pick up their children because nobody knew what was happening,” the teacher said. 

“We are all anxious about our health and that of our pupils. I think it is taking the government too long to get to the root of this mysterious gas leakage. The government has to do something quickly before it gets too late,” the teacher added.

Wednesday’s incident marks the fourth reported occurrence of the emissions in the Ijebu area since April.

The state government, however, said the situation was under control.

Previous incidents also affected schools in the area. About 40 pupils were reportedly affected in April, while more than 120 were hospitalised after another exposure in May. On June 1, another incident left 69 pupils requiring medical attention.

Schools affected in previous incidents include Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Epe Garage, Ijebu-Ode, Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode and St Anthony Grammar School in Ijebu-Imusin.

The state government has continued to investigate the source of the emissions, with Governor Dapo Abiodun previously saying officials were working with the Ministries of Environment and Health, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Department of Geology at Olabisi Onabanjo University.

Following the initial incident, Abiodun said gas analysers had been installed at affected schools and preliminary tests identified the substance as methane.

He also said preliminary investigations pointed to possible geological factors, including fault lines, as the source of the emissions, while the government awaited a final report from experts handling the investigation. 

On Wednesday, the state Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the government was monitoring the situation.

Kehinde Bello, the governor’s Senior Special Assistant and General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Agency, also visited affected areas in Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo.

Bello attributed the latest incident to underground gas emissions previously recorded in the area and said authorities were working towards a permanent solution.

He said government investigations had so far pointed to a natural phenomenon associated with geological and tectonic fault lines, rather than sabotage or a leak from a gas pipeline.

Bello urged residents to remain calm and said the affected pupils were expected to recover after receiving medical treatment.

He advised people exposed to the odour to cover their noses and mouths with wet handkerchiefs instead of wearing nose masks.

The recurring incidents have raised concerns over the safety of pupils, teachers and residents in the affected communities, with pressure mounting on authorities to determine the precise source of the emissions and prevent further exposure.