The Ogun State Government has temporarily relocated students of Our Lady of Apostles Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, after methane gas was confirmed in an area affected by repeated chemical inhalation incidents.
Governor Dapo Abiodun announced the decision during an on-the-spot assessment of the school, saying the relocation was necessary to protect students, teachers and other members of the school community while investigations continue.
A statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, said the government was working with relevant agencies, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Department of Geology at Olabisi Onabanjo University, to determine the source of the gas emissions.
Abiodun said preliminary findings suggest possible geological factors, including fault lines, may be responsible for the recurring gas releases affecting schools in the area.
He said gas analysers had been installed following earlier incidents, which confirmed the presence of methane.
The governor said the state would not allow students to return to the school until it is fully satisfied that the environment is safe for learning.
He also dismissed suggestions that the incidents were deliberate attacks on schools, describing them as a natural occurrence under investigation.
The latest relocation follows repeated gas exposure incidents in schools across Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu Imushin over the past two months, which have led to dozens of hospitalisations.
Students and staff have previously experienced symptoms including fainting, breathing difficulties, weakness and stomach pain, prompting growing concern in affected communities.
Abiodun assured residents that the government remains committed to identifying the source of the emissions and preventing a recurrence, while continuing to monitor the situation.
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