FG, Ogun probe recurring gas leaks

The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), has deployed a specialised technical ad-hoc committee to Ogun State to investigate and mitigate recurring subsurface gas seepages that are currently impacting secondary schools and host communities across the Ijebu axis and neighboring regions.

The intervention follows reports of localised gas emissions causing oxygen depletion and public health concerns in affected areas.

During a joint briefing and site assessment kickoff in Ijebu on Saturday, officials confirmed that preliminary findings point to a natural, subsurface geological phenomenon rather than pipeline leaks.

Speaking during the briefing, the team lead of the Federal Government Ad-hoc Committee, an Assistant Director at the NUPRC, Prosper Okonedo, declared that federal experts have joined forces with the state government to establish the origin of the emissions and proffer lasting technical solutions.

He said, “We are from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, known as the NUPRC. We bring you glad tidings from the commission.

“About two weeks ago, the Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC, Mrs. Oritsemeyawa Eyesan, advised that we set up an ad-hoc committee from the Lagos regional office to come to the state because the state government had conducted an initial assessment and submitted their report.”

“Presently, we have a study group known as the ‘Epe Study Group.’ They are looking into similar issues in a village community in Rivers State, and there is one right in Delta State where we have established that gas seepage is emanating from the subsurface.

“However, for this state, we cannot really say what it is right now. That is why we are here, and we are going to deploy to the site to see the situation for ourselves, even though the state government had reported seepages of gas affecting certain secondary schools in some communities.

“The government is there to ensure the welfare and well-being of the Nigerian people. If that is the paramount role of government, that is why we as a Commission have come to work with the state government to proffer solutions to whatever problem exists in this community. My team and I will do an assessment and come up with a report that will work well for the Nigerian people.”

Addressing journalists, the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, emphasized that the gas leak is becoming an emerging regional environmental challenge requiring national expertise.

Oresanya said, “We have similar problems going on right now in Rivers, Delta, Osun, and here in Ogun State. Coincidentally for us in Ogun State, this is happening around schools. But we need to establish that what is happening around the region is similar to what we are witnessing here—it is not just a local problem.

“All I want to say is that we don’t have any reason to panic. All we need to do is stay concerned, but please don’t panic. What we know and what we are bringing to the table is that the gas affecting our people is subsurface gas. We’ve proved that over and over.

“There is no gas pipeline at Owode in Ikenne, and there is no gas pipeline around Ijebu-Omu where these things are happening. It is coming from the upper crust. It is a natural occurrence, and what triggers it will be established.”

The commissioner further ruled out any immediate plans to relocate residents, pointing to ongoing global benchmarking and public health management protocols:

Prof. Philip Ikhiane, a Professor of Sedimentary Petroleum Geochemistry at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, and Lead of the Ogun State Technical Investigating Team, outlined the initial geological discoveries and safety guidelines.

Ikhiane said that through preliminary geological work and remote sensing operations, we discovered subsurface lineaments, which might be in the form of faults, fractures, joints underneath the ground.

Recall that for the fourth time, over 100 students across some secondary schools in Ijebu Ode, Ago Iwoye and Ijebu Igbo were recently hospitalised at the State Hospital, Ijebu Ode, General Hospital Ijebu Igbo and other healthcare facilities after inhaling offensive gaseous substance.

The worst hits according to information gathered by our correspondent include Ijebu Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu Ode, Itamerin Comprehensive High School, Ago Iwoye, among others.

A circulating video shows how some of the students were fainting and being rushed to hospitals after inhaling this gaseous substance which the government had earlier this year identified as methane.

A teacher in one of the affected schools who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “The incident happened at about 10 am in the morning. The students and the staff started inhaling this gas and began to have difficulty in breathing and were fainting after which they were rushed to the hospitals.

Our correspondent recalled that that was the fourth time the mysterious gas leak would be causing confusion and anxiety in Ijebu land.

The first incident in April affected about 40 students, while over 120 students were reportedly hospitalised after another exposure in May. A further 69 students were also hospitalised on June 1 after another occurrence of the gas leak, now confirmed to be methane.

The schools affected in the past include Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Epe Garage, Ijebu-Ode, Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu Ode, St Anthony Grammar School, Ijebu Imusin among others.