Ogun Gas Leakage Crisis: Students Hospitalized, Probe Demanded

Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, has been gripped by palpable tension following multiple air pollution incidents suspected to be caused by gas leakages, leading to the hospitalization of numerous students and widespread community concern. The latest incident occurred at Anglican Girls Grammar School on a Friday, prompting immediate fears and drawing parallels to a similar event just over a month prior, where at least 30 students of Our Lady Apostles Secondary School in Ijebu-Ode were hospitalized due to a suspected gas leak.

Reports from both incidents describe a chaotic scene, with many students fainting and being rushed to Ijebu Ode General Hospital for urgent medical attention. Videos circulated by TVC News on X depicted parents at the hospital expressing profound outrage, grief, and rancor as victims were brought in by ambulance. Anxious parents converged on the vehicle, desperately seeking to identify their children amidst a backdrop of crying, wailing, and despair, highlighting the immense sorrow that engulfed the community.

Ola Oresanya, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, confirmed the incident at Anglican Girls Grammar School, stating that air quality monitoring devices recorded elevated methane concentrations, peaking at approximately 13,500 parts per million (ppm) in surrounding areas. He clarified that while this level is below the lower explosive limit, it is environmentally significant, necessitating immediate technical investigation and precautionary measures. The commissioner explained that these monitoring stations are part of the state’s continuous environmental surveillance program designed for early detection of abnormal air quality and timely public health interventions.

In response, the Ogun State government has activated a multi-agency environmental and public health assessment team. This team, comprising environmental regulators, emergency response services, and technical air quality experts, is tasked with determining the source of the emissions, assessing their spatial extent and exposure risk, and evaluating associated gases such as hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other relevant atmospheric parameters. Residents have been advised to remain calm, continue normal activities, but avoid open flames or ignition sources in areas with unusual gas odours. Additionally, any symptoms like dizziness, headaches, nausea, or respiratory discomfort should be promptly reported to health facilities. The government reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives, public health, and environmental integrity, promising further verified updates as investigations progress.

Adding to the public outcry, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun State Joint Campus Committee (JCC), has called for urgent government intervention and a comprehensive, transparent investigation into the suspected toxic gas incidents, particularly around Our Lady’s Apostles School. In a statement, NANS Ogun JCC Chairman Comrade Tijani Habeebullahi Adekunle expressed deep concern over reports of students and residents exposed to harmful substances, resulting in breathing complications, panic, and emergency hospitalizations. The association emphasized that such incidents raise serious public safety and environmental concerns, requiring immediate attention from relevant authorities and highlighting fresh worries about environmental safety and emergency preparedness within school environments and surrounding communities.

NANS Ogun JCC underscored the critical importance of maintaining safe and conducive learning environments, asserting that students’ safety must never be compromised. They urged the Federal Ministry of Environment, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Ogun State Ministry of Health, and other environmental and emergency response agencies to launch a transparent and scientific investigation. Furthermore, the association demanded urgent environmental assessments, air quality evaluations, and public health inspections across Ijebu-Ode and adjoining communities to prevent recurrence. NANS Ogun JCC called for timely public updates, credible communication, and proactive emergency response measures to protect lives and restore public confidence, expressing solidarity with all affected individuals and vowing to closely monitor the situation to ensure necessary safeguards are implemented.