Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has ordered the temporary relocation of students from Our Lady of Apostles Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, following a chemical inhalation incident. The governor made the announcement during an on-the-spot assessment of the school, where he confirmed that preliminary investigations have detected methane gas in the affected area.
Relocation for Safety and Investigation
The relocation aims to protect the health of students, teachers, and staff while allowing experts to conduct a thorough investigation into the source of the contamination. Abiodun stated that the state government, through the Ministries of Environment and Health, is collaborating with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Department of Geology at Olabisi Onabanjo University to determine the root cause.
Recurring Incidents Raise Concerns
Governor Abiodun revealed that this is the second time such pollution has occurred at the school and neighboring institutions. “Twice now, we have recorded cases of pollution in this school and some neighbouring schools. What is interesting is that the gas pollution occurred at about the same time in the affected schools—about three schools altogether—and this has happened on two separate occasions,” he said.
Following the first occurrence, the government installed gas analyzers across the schools, which confirmed the presence of methane. “Preliminary findings suggest there may be geological factors involved, possibly fault lines common to these locations, which could be responsible for the emissions,” Abiodun added.
Government Reassures Public
The governor dismissed rumors that the incidents were deliberate attacks on schools, calling them unfounded. “This appears to be a natural occurrence, and we are determined to get to the bottom of it,” he said. He assured residents that the government remains focused on public health and environmental safety, and that updates will be provided as investigations progress.
“The students have been moved out temporarily, and until we are satisfied that the environment is completely safe and conducive for learning, they will not return,” Abiodun concluded.
