By Ade Oyeyemi
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has ordered the fumigation of the Igbokoda River and the distribution of nose masks and other protective health items to residents following complaints about a foul smell from the site of last week’s Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash.
The measures are aimed at addressing residents’ concerns over possible environmental contamination and potential health risks as recovery operations continue in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area.
The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, announced the governor’s directives in a statement issued on Wednesday.
According to the statement, Aiyedatiwa directed the Ministries of Environment and Health to begin extensive fumigation of the river following complaints about the offensive odour emanating from the crash site.
The governor’s intervention is considered important because the river supports the livelihoods of residents in Igbokoda and neighbouring communities.
Aiyedatiwa also instructed the Ilaje Local Government Area authorities to provide water tankers to supply clean drinking water if assessments establish that the river has been seriously polluted and is unsafe for use.
The statement said the temporary water supply arrangement would remain in place until a lasting solution to the suspected pollution was implemented.
The governor further directed the relevant ministries to distribute nose masks and other essential health kits to residents as a precaution against possible environmental hazards.
He also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian Air Force and other agencies involved in recovering the victims’ remains and aircraft wreckage, while prioritising the safety and welfare of the affected community.
The crash occurred on October 5, when a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, identified in reports as NAF 931, went down in a swampy area of Igbokoda during a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos.
The incident reportedly killed all 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers.
Recovery operations have continued amid difficulties posed by the swampy terrain and the aircraft’s submersion in the water. Residents have also raised concerns over the increasingly unpleasant smell coming from the river.
The traditional ruler of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, had appealed to the Federal and Ondo State governments to speed up the recovery operation and address concerns about possible contamination from decomposing human remains and spilled aviation fuel.
Following the crash, the state government deployed amphibious swamp machines to assist the Nigerian Navy, Air Force, emergency responders and local divers in reaching the affected area.
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The Nigerian Air Force has also intensified recovery efforts and established a 12-member board of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. The Federal Government had earlier ordered an investigation into the incident.
The latest measures are expected to address immediate concerns over residents’ access to safe water and the potential environmental consequences of the crash.
