By Peace Udugba
The Ogun State Government has assured parents and residents that academic activities have fully resumed in public schools affected by the recent methane gas emissions in Ijebu-Ode, with students relocated to safe areas within their respective school premises.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, gave the assurance on Wednesday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu.
He said all students had returned to school following temporary safety measures introduced by the government, stressing that learning is continuing in secure locations within the affected schools.
Arigbabu clarified reports suggesting that only students in terminal classes had resumed. According to him, only Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) students writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) were initially relocated to other schools before all learners were later allowed to resume in designated safe areas.
“When parents raised concerns, we listened to them and put measures in place to reassure them. We initially asked all learners to stay at home while we assessed the situation. Because SS3 students were writing WAEC examinations, we relocated those from Anglican Girls’ Grammar School (AGGS) to Adeola Odutola College and those from Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School (OLASS) to Ijebu Muslim College.
Now that the examinations have ended, all students have returned to their schools and are receiving lessons in safer sections of the premises,” he said.
The commissioner disclosed that, despite the government’s earlier directive for students to remain at home, many learners had continued reporting to school, where teachers voluntarily engaged them in safer locations.
“I visited one of the schools and found students already attending classes. The teachers had been teaching them in safe areas, so we decided to formalise the arrangement and continue learning in those locations,” he added.
Arigbabu explained that investigations have shown the methane emission is concentrated in specific sections of the affected schools rather than across the entire premises, making it possible to isolate the affected areas while academic activities continue elsewhere.
“The emission is heavier in only a particular part of the school. Although people may still perceive a slight odour, even within the town, it is not at a dangerous level outside the affected zone. We have ambulances, environmental officers and other safety measures in place, while the affected sections have been cordoned off to prevent students from accessing them,” he said.
He noted that all students are currently receiving lessons within their schools and that more classroom space would become available after the completion of the Junior Secondary School (JS3) examinations, allowing for better redistribution of learners.
Arigbabu urged residents not to panic, assuring them that the government remains committed to ensuring uninterrupted education while experts continue investigating the source of the methane emissions.
“We cannot allow our children to remain at home because of this challenge. We must find safe ways to continue teaching and learning while the problem is being addressed,” he said.
The commissioner described the methane emission as a wider environmental issue affecting the Ijebu-Ode community rather than a problem limited to schools.
He noted that, besides Anglican Girls’ Grammar School and Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Saint Anthony Grammar School, Esure, has also been affected.
“It is not just a school problem; it is an environmental issue affecting the community. That is why the government is taking a holistic approach to finding a lasting solution,” he said.
Arigbabu also dismissed speculations that the incident was caused by sabotage or terrorism, insisting that investigations indicate it is a natural occurrence.
“It is a natural phenomenon. Some people have suggested it could be a terrorist attack, but findings so far do not support that claim,” he stated.
He expressed optimism that the approaching end of the school term and the eight-week holiday would provide sufficient time for government and relevant agencies to complete investigations and implement permanent safety measures before the next academic session.
“Fortunately, the term is almost over, and the holiday will give us enough time to ensure that all necessary measures are put in place to guarantee the safety of our schools before students return,” he said.
Arigbabu added that the state government is also prepared to sustain learning through its AI-powered learning platform should physical classes become impossible.
“Our AI-powered learning platform has already been activated, and teachers have been trained to use it. If, for any reason, physical schooling becomes impossible, teaching and learning can continue through the platform,” he said.
The methane gas emissions, believed to have originated from an underground fault line, recently affected schools in the Mojoda area of Ijebu-Ode, leaving more than 200 students and teachers with symptoms such as dizziness and fainting.
Victims were treated at the Ijebu-Ode General Hospital, while government agencies continue investigations into the incident.
