‎NAF Crash: Ondo Orders Fumigation To Prevent Disease Outbreak

‎The Ondo State Government has ordered the fumigation of the river around the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash site in Igbokoda to prevent a possible disease outbreak following complaints by residents about a foul odour and fears of environmental pollution.

‎The government also directed the distribution of nose masks and other essential health kits to residents of Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area to protect them from potential health hazards.

‎The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had directed the Ministries of Environment and Health to commence extensive fumigation of the river.

‎According to the statement, the intervention is aimed at protecting public health, as the river serves as a major source of livelihood for residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities.

‎Aiyedatiwa also directed the Ilaje Local Government to arrange water tankers for the continuous distribution of potable water to residents if assessments establish that the river is severely polluted and unsuitable for use.

‎The arrangement, the statement said, would remain in place pending a lasting intervention to address the pollution concerns.

‎The directive followed complaints by residents and the Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, who called for the urgent removal of human remains from the crash site over an offensive odour spreading across the community.

Read Also: https://leadership.ng/naf-plane-crash-monarch-residents-seek-evacuation-of-victims-remains/

‎The monarch had expressed concern that decomposing human remains and body parts were still floating in the river, affecting residents and raising fears about access to clean water.

‎“The odour is extremely offensive. So many parts of the human body are floating around in the river. Some of the bodies have not been recovered. They have decomposed, and it is affecting everything,” he said.

‎Residents also reported that the smell had spread to residential buildings, while expressing concern about possible water contamination and the difficulty of obtaining clean water for domestic use.

‎The NAF ATR-42 aircraft crashed into a swamp near the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda on Monday, October 5, while on a mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos.

‎All 25 people on board, comprising 20 passengers and five crew members, died in the incident.

‎The Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko, had earlier told LEADERSHIP that the government was assessing the environmental and public health impact of the crash to determine the extent of possible pollution and the necessary decontamination measures.

‎He said the state government was collaborating with the federal government on recovery efforts and conducting a comprehensive assessment to address the environmental and public health concerns.