Ogun State Government has engaged petroleum and geological experts as part of efforts to find a lasting solution to recurring gas emissions reported in some school premises within the Ijebu-Ode axis of the state.
Gatekeepers News reports that commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, disclosed this during an engagement with experts from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and geologists from the Department of Earth Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.
Arigbabu said Governor Dapo Abiodun had directed that all necessary measures be taken to permanently address the situation and prevent future occurrences, prompting the government to enlist the services of relevant professionals.
According to him, the state government had already implemented several precautionary measures, including the installation of CCTV cameras and air analysers, clearing of surrounding bushes, construction of perimeter fencing, and deployment of ambulances with paramedics to affected areas.
He said the interventions were aimed at ensuring the safety of learners and preventing disruptions to the academic calendar.
The commissioner assured residents that the government would continue to take proactive steps to guarantee a safe and conducive learning environment, urging parents, guardians, teachers and students to remain calm and avoid spreading rumours that could heighten anxiety.
“In continuation of our efforts to tackle the problem of gas emissions, we decided to come with the experts from the NMDPRA, Ministry of Environment and Earth Science Department of Olabisi Onabanjo University. All these experts are on field helping us to investigate what happened,” Arigbabu said.
He added: “These experts are in the field following the instructions of the Governor. We have commissioned them to help us look into what is happening and the preliminary reports indicate that there’s a sort of geological infraction which needs further investigation.”
Earlier, the Ogun State Coordinator of the NMDPRA, Dr. Atilola Simeon, commended the state government for prioritising the safety and welfare of school
