By Ameh Sunday Enyo-ojo
The Ogun State Government has pledged to reimburse parents and guardians who paid for medical treatment at private hospitals for pupils affected by the latest gas-emission incident in Ijebuland.
Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, gave the assurance on Thursday during an interview with Newsmen following the incident on Wednesday, October 21, which reportedly left more than 100 pupils requiring medical attention.
Oresanya described the incident as a public health emergency, assuring affected families that the government would take responsibility for the medical expenses.
“This is a public health emergency, and it is part of the major component of the social contract that the government has to handle with the people,” he said.
The commissioner explained that pupils treated at public hospitals received medical attention at the government’s expense, including oxygen administration, before being discharged.
He added that parents who took their children to private hospitals could also seek reimbursement by submitting their medical bills through a designated channel.
“Those who went to private hospitals, fine. If you bring your bill, the government will pay,” Oresanya assured.
He disclosed that the local government had established a control room where affected parents could submit their bills for reimbursement.
“The government will refund because public health in Nigeria is a government responsibility. We are not shying away from that reality,” he added.
The October incident, reported in Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo and Ago-Iwoye, is the latest in a series of reported gas-emission occurrences in Ijebuland since April 2026. Previous incidents affected pupils and teachers in several schools, raising concerns about the safety of educational institutions and surrounding communities.
Oresanya said preliminary air-quality analysis had detected methane in samples collected around affected locations. He added that the government was working with researchers from Olabisi Onabanjo University and relevant federal technical agencies to establish the source of the recurring emissions.
According to him, researchers have conducted aeromagnetic investigations and ground magnetic surveys as part of efforts to determine whether the gas is coming from a shallow underground reservoir or a deeper geological formation.
“They are already on top of the situation and they are carrying out the deep-rooted investigation. So, where is that gas? Is it coming from a shallow reservoir, or is it a deep-rooted reservoir?” he said.
The commissioner assured residents that investigations were ongoing, while the government continued efforts to establish the cause of the incidents and prevent further occurrences.
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