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The Ogun State Government has attributed the recurring gas emissions in Ijebu-Ode and its environs to natural underground geological activities, dismissing claims linking the incidents to traditional myths or beliefs.
Dr. Ola Oresanya, the Commissioner for Environment, disclosed this during a state government-organised town hall meeting with stakeholders on the gas emissions in the town and its environs, held at the Bisi Rodipe Hall, GRA, Ijebu-Ode.
According to Oresanya, scientific investigations have revealed that the gases being emitted in parts of the town are mainly methane and sulphide, originating from underground geological events caused by fractures along existing fault lines.
“There is what we call the Ifewara-Zungeru Trans-Atlantic fault line that cuts across Mojoda, Ijebu-Ode into Osun State through Zungeru in Niger State. That fault line has existed from time immemorial, and it has been established that it connects to the areas where the gas emissions have occurred.
Coincidentally, all the affected schools are located within that corridor,” he said.
He further explained that the affected part of Ijebu-Ode was historically a forested area with little human settlement.
“In fact, that area of Ijebu-Ode was originally a forest and largely deserted. Historical records show that most of the affected schools are missionary schools built on lands that were probably allocated by community leaders because the area was largely uninhabited by the indigenous population,” he added.
Oresanya said the state government is conducting further scientific analysis to determine whether the methane and sulphide emissions are thermogenic or methanogenic in origin.
He added that the investigation would also establish whether Ijebu-Ode is situated on a significant gas reserve and determine the appropriate measures to safely manage any underground gas pressure.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, urged residents of Ijebu-Ode and neighbouring communities not to panic but to comply with safety guidelines.
She advised residents to cover their noses with wet handkerchiefs during gas emission incidents, avoid using face masks, which she described as dangerous under such conditions, and contact the state’s Health Emergency Line, 08112000033, whenever necessary.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, said schools recently closed by the state government would reopen after consultations with the principals of the affected schools and zonal education officers.
He appealed to parents to give the government time to complete the necessary processes before resuming academic activities.
Also speaking, the Head of the Department of Earth Sciences at Olabisi Onabanjo University and leader of the investigation team, Professor Philip Ikhane, urged residents of the affected communities to remain calm, assuring them that the team and the state government were working to determine the exact cause of the gas emissions.
He also advised residents to minimise activities such as borehole drilling and quarry blasting, warning that such activities could aggravate existing fault lines and increase the associated risks.
Speaking on behalf of stakeholders, Adegbenro Adetayo, Olawale Kukoyi and Monday Ajayi, as well as Morayo Adebanjo, commended the state government for its response to the situation.
They also urged residents and affected schools to make use of the health emergency helpline whenever the need arises.
