Key points
- Ogun says recurring gas emissions in Ijebu-Ode are caused by underground geological fault lines, not supernatural forces.
- Investigations identified methane and sulphide gases escaping through underground fractures.
- Government is studying whether the gases indicate natural gas deposits beneath the area.
- Residents have been advised on safety measures while affected schools will reopen after safety assessments.
Main story
The Ogun State Government has attributed the recurring gas emissions affecting parts of Ijebu-Ode to underground geological fault lines, dismissing claims that the incidents are linked to traditional or supernatural causes.
The explanation follows three separate incidents this year in which suspected chemical odours forced the hospitalisation of students and teachers in some schools across the town.
Speaking at a town hall meeting in Ijebu-Ode, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said investigations showed that methane and sulphide gases were escaping through underground fractures associated with the Ifewara-Zungeru trans-Atlantic fault line.
According to him, the fault line stretches from Mojoda through Ijebu-Ode to Osun State, with many of the affected schools located along the geological corridor.
Oresanya said the incidents were the result of natural geological processes rather than myths or spiritual beliefs, adding that scientists were carrying out further laboratory tests to determine whether the gases were thermogenic or methanogenic.
He said the government was also investigating the possibility of natural gas deposits beneath the affected communities.
The commissioner noted that the area was once largely forested and sparsely populated before missionary settlements led to the establishment of schools in the communities now experiencing the emissions.
The Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, urged residents to remain calm and follow official safety guidelines whenever gas emissions occur.
She advised residents to cover their noses with wet handkerchiefs instead of face masks and encouraged anyone requiring assistance to contact the state’s emergency health line.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abayomi Arigbadu, said schools affected by the incidents would only reopen after consultations with school authorities and completion of necessary safety procedures.
Philip Ikhane, a professor at Olabisi Onabanjo University, advised residents to avoid activities such as excessive borehole drilling and quarry blasting, warning that such activities could worsen existing geological conditions.
Stakeholders at the meeting welcomed the government’s investigations and urged residents to promptly report future incidents through the designated emergency channels.
The issues
The incidents have heightened concerns about public safety in schools and residential communities, while also drawing attention to the need for continuous geological monitoring in areas located along major fault lines.
The government’s findings could also shape future land-use planning and determine whether the affected communities possess commercially viable natural gas reserves.
What’s being said
“The occurrence is not traditional mythology but a natural geological process.” — Ola Oresanya
“Cover your nose with a wet handkerchief and avoid face masks.” — Tomi Coker
What’s next
Laboratory investigations will continue to determine the exact origin of the gases and assess whether commercially viable natural gas deposits exist beneath the affected communities. The state will also complete safety assessments before reopening affected schools.
Bottom line
Ogun says science, not superstition, explains the recurring gas emissions in Ijebu-Ode, with authorities now focused on safeguarding residents while investigating the area’s underground geology.
