About 100 pupils were reportedly hospitalised on Wednesday following exposure to an offensive gaseous substance, as Ogun State Government again shut some schools in Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo after the incident.
Penpushing reports that a video circulating on social media showed some pupils fainting and being rushed to hospitals after inhaling the substance, which the state government had previously identified as methane.
The affected pupils as at time of filing this report were taken to the State Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, the General Hospital, Ijebu-Igbo, and other healthcare facilities for treatment, however, among the worst-hit schools were Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, Itamerin Comprehensive High School, and Ago-Iwoye.
Penpushing further reports that a teacher at one of the affected schools, who doesn’t want his name in print explained that the incident occurred at about 10am, when pupils and staff began experiencing breathing difficulties and fainting.
The teacher added that some schools in Ago-Iwoye had to close around 11am as the situation became increasingly alarming, expressing concern that the gas emissions had been recurring 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 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’, he 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’, he added.
Penpushing also reports that, the latest incident was the fourth reported occurrence of the gaseous emissions in the Ijebu area since April, renewing concerns over the safety of pupils and residents.
The Ogun State Government has, however, assured the residents that the situation is under control, however, it would be recalled that in April, about 40 pupils were reportedly affected, while more than 120 others were hospitalised following another exposure in May, and on June 1, the incident reportedly left 69 pupils needing medical attention.
Penpushing reports that affected schools previously included Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Epe Garage, Ijebu-Ode, Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, and St Anthony Grammar School, Ijebu-Imusin, among others.
The Governor Dapo Abiodun following an earlier occurrence said the state government was 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 to establish the cause of the emissions.
Penpushing further reports that Abiodun explained that gas analysers had been installed in affected schools after the first incident and that preliminary findings identified the substance as methane.
“Preliminary findings suggest there may be geological factors involved, possibly fault lines common to these locations, which could be responsible for the emissions. We are awaiting the final report from the professionals handling the investigation’, he said
Penpushing also reports that Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, when contacted on Wednesday said the government was on top of the situation, while the General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Agency, Kehinde Bello, who visited affected areas in Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo, linked the latest incident to underground gas emissions previously recorded in the area.
The General Manager assured that the situation was under control, assuring residents that the government would find a lasting solution to the recurring problem, stressing that government investigations had indicated that the phenomenon was a natural occurrence associated with geological and tectonic fault lines, rather than sabotage or a gas pipeline leak.
Penpushing reports that Bello urged residents to remain calm, adding that the affected pupils were expected to recover after receiving medical attention, and equally advised residents exposed to the odour to cover their noses and mouths with wet handkerchiefs rather than wear nose masks.
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