The Federal government through the Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in collaboration with the Ogun State government has begun to find a lasting solution to the recurrence gas emission in some parts of Ogun State which led to many students being hospitalised.
It said the step became necessary to avert future occurrences of such and to safeguard the well-being of residents of the affected communities.
Recall that scores of secondary school students a few weeks ago were rushed to hospitals following another occurrence of gaseous odour in Ijebu-Ode Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo.
The incident happening for the umpteenth time in Ijebu-Ode once again hit the Anglican Girls Grammar School (Public and Private) Obalende with dozens of its students affected by the odour and admitted to the general hospital for treatment.
The situation also spread to Ijebu-Igbo affecting several more students of the Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School who were rushed to the General Hospital for treatment.
The gaseous odour was also observed in Ago-Iwoye with schools reportedly closing abruptly and learners sent home.
Speaking with newsmen before an on-spot assessment by the Ad Hoc Committee from NUPRC to affected schools the Commissioner for Environment in Ogun State Ola Oresanya stated that the state government was currently working to provide a lasting solution to the recurring gas emissions which according to him has become a major public health concern.
He lamented that the gas emission is gradually becoming a regional issue and once it becomes a regional issue it goes beyond what a state government can handle independently.
He said ‘We are here today to showcase the level of collaboration we have established with the Federal Government in finding a lasting solution to the problem. We have similar challenges in Rivers State Delta State Ondo states and here in Ogun State.
‘Coincidentally in Ogun State the situation is occurring around schools. However we need to establish that what is happening across the region is similar to what we are experiencing here. This is not just a local problem. That is why we have experts from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) here to work with us and find a lasting solution.
‘We also want our people to understand that this is not merely about responding to the situation. We are working seriously to close the information gap and establish exactly what is happening. I can assure you that we are closer to a solution than we were previously. I am confident that within the next few weeks we will be able to conclude our investigations and arrive at the appropriate solution for our people.
‘Establishing the exact nature of the problem is the first step towards finding a solution. Without a clearly defined understanding of the problem efforts towards resolving it could amount to a futile exercise. All I want to say is that there is no reason for panic. We should be concerned but we should not panic. The government is working seriously to bridge the information gap and address the situation.
‘I believe we are getting closer to a solution. You will witness the outcome of our deliberations and the efforts the Ogun State Government has made so far to support the Federal Government in identifying the actual source of the problem. We have experts in gas-related matters here with us and they will assess the work already carried out by the research teams deployed by the Ogun State Government.
‘Beyond the immediate economic implications this has become a regional issue. Even recently there were reports of gas-related concerns in Abuja and I am confident that the NUPRC is also working to address such challenges.’
He however said Ogun State remained at the forefront of efforts to ensure that the actual cause of the problem is identified and its findings contribute to a broader national solution.
In his remark an Assistant Director at NUPRC Engr. Omonedo Prosper said he and his team would go to the site do an assessment and come up with a report that will find a lasting solution to the issue.
He said ‘We have a study group; we are looking into the issue and the causes. There is one right now in Delta State where they established that gas seepage is emanating from the subsurface.
‘However we cannot really say what it is right now and that is why we are here. And we are going to deploy to the site to see for ourselves what the situation is even though the state government has reported gas seepage affecting certain secondary schools in some communities.
‘Yes to a large extent the government is there to ensure the welfare and the well-being of the Nigerian people are paramount. That is why we are here as a commission. We have come to work with the state government to put a solution to whatever problem there is in this community.
‘Today what we see in this hall are experts from within the commission headquarters the Lagos Region Office and of course our counterparts from outside of the shores of this country.’
Also the investigating team lead from Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago Iwoye and a professor of Sedimentary and Petroleum Geochemistry Prof. Ikhane Philip while speaking on the effect of the gas emission said methane leads to oxygen depletion and its concentration can cause an explosion.