Firdaus Obiremi
The Ondo State Government has ordered the fumigation of a river around the site of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area, following residents’ complaints about an offensive smell and fears of possible environmental contamination.
The government also directed the distribution of nose masks and other essential health kits to residents as emergency recovery operations continue at the site of the October 5 crash, which claimed the lives of all 25 people on board.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, directed the state ministries of Environment and Health to commence extensive fumigation of the affected river.
The intervention followed growing concerns among residents over possible health hazards associated with the crash site, where recovery teams are battling difficult swampy terrain and submerged aircraft wreckage.
Aiyedatiwa said the measures were necessary because the river serves as an important source of livelihood for residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities.
The governor also directed the Ilaje Local Government Area to arrange water tankers to provide potable water to residents if assessments confirm that the river is severely polluted and unsafe for use.
According to the state government, the emergency water supply will continue pending a lasting solution to any confirmed pollution arising from the incident.
The government added that it would continue to support the Nigerian Air Force and other emergency responders in their efforts to recover the wreckage and victims’ remains while prioritising the safety and welfare of residents.
Residents have reportedly expressed concerns over the increasingly offensive smell emanating from the crash site, prompting calls for urgent government intervention.
The community’s traditional ruler, Afolabi Odidiomo, had also appealed to the federal and state governments to accelerate recovery operations and address concerns about possible contamination.
The crash has presented significant recovery challenges because the aircraft went down in a swampy area and became submerged in water.
Following the incident, the Ondo State Government deployed amphibious swamp machines to assist the Nigerian Navy, Air Force, emergency response agencies and local divers in accessing the site.
The Nigerian Air Force aircraft, identified as NAF 931, was an ATR 42 that crashed while on a mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos.
The military subsequently confirmed that all 25 people aboard, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, died in the incident.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has constituted a 12-member Aircraft Accident Investigation Board to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
The investigation is expected to establish the factors responsible for the tragedy, even as recovery efforts and measures to address residents’ environmental and health concerns continue.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the state government’s intervention comes amid growing concerns over the safety of communities that depend on the affected river for their daily needs.
.....
