Ondo government fumigates river, provides emergency water after plane crash

The Ondo State Government has ordered the fumigation of the river near where a military aircraft crashed last week in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area.

The government also began distributing nose masks and health kits to residents. This comes after complaints about a bad smell from the site of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash on 5 October.

Residents of Igbokoda are worried about possible environmental pollution and health risks as search and recovery efforts continue at the crash site.

In a statement on Wednesday, Idowu Ajanaku, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, said the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, directed the ministries of environment and health to carry out fumigation of the river. This decision followed complaints about the unpleasant smell.

Mr Aiyedatiwa mentioned that the fumigation is necessary since the river is a key source of livelihood for people in Igbokoda and surrounding areas.

The governor also instructed the Ilaje Local Government Area to arrange for water tankers to supply clean water to residents. This will happen if assessments show that the river is badly polluted and unsafe for use.

The water supply plan will stay in place until there is a permanent solution to the pollution issue. Mr Aiyedatiwa, who is from the local area, also told the relevant ministries to hand out nose masks and other health kits to residents to protect them from possible health risks.

The state government said it will keep supporting the Nigerian Air Force’s evacuation efforts while prioritising the safety of residents in the area.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the NAF ATR 42 aircraft, known as NAF 931, crashed in a swampy area of Igbokoda while on a flight from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos. The publication confirmed that all 25 people on board, including five crew members and 20 passengers, lost their lives, according to NAF.

Recovery efforts have been difficult due to the swampy ground and the aircraft being submerged in water.

After the crash, the Ondo State Government sent in swamp machines to help the Nigerian Navy, the Air Force, emergency services, and local divers reach the site to recover the wreckage and the remains of the victims.

Residents are still worried about the strong smell coming from the crash site. The community's king, Afolabi Odidiomo, has urged both federal and state governments to speed up recovery efforts and deal with the suspected pollution.