Residents of Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have called for an urgent environmental clean-up following an offensive odour and suspected aviation fuel pollution after a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed into the Ondo River.
The traditional ruler of the community, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, urged the Federal and Ondo State governments to intensify efforts to recover the remains of victims and remove debris from the crash site.
The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft reportedly crashed last Monday with at least 25 people on board. Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had earlier said there were no confirmed survivors.
Speaking on the incident, Odidiomo said decomposing human remains in the river were contributing to the offensive smell affecting the community.
“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,” the monarch said.
He also expressed concern over the suspected spillage of aviation fuel, warning that the pollution was affecting residents’ access to clean water for domestic activities, including cooking.
According to him, traces of aviation fuel could be seen on the river beyond the immediate crash site.
The monarch called on the authorities to expedite the recovery of the remaining human remains and aircraft wreckage, while commencing immediate measures to decontaminate the affected environment.
Responding, the Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko, said the state government was working with the Federal Government to address the environmental concerns arising from the crash.
Loko explained that a state government delegation had visited the community shortly after the incident to assess the damage and support recovery efforts.
“Shortly after the plane crash occurred, the state government sent a delegation to the place for an on-the-spot assessment of the impact of the crash on the environment. Many people were there to assist in the recovery efforts. I think that is still ongoing,” he said.
The commissioner added that the state was supporting federal authorities because the recovery operation required joint efforts.
He said the government was also assessing the extent of the pollution and its possible implications for public health before determining appropriate decontamination measures.
“What we are trying to do is make a heuristic assessment of the level of public health impact and determine how we can embark on decontamination efforts because the surrounding area is surely contaminated,” Loko said.
He acknowledged that pollution had occurred but assured residents that the government was working to evaluate the environmental damage and respond as quickly as possible.
“So, there is a case of pollution, but we are not resting on our oars. We are carefully undertaking holistic assessments of the environmental impact and the public health impact of what has happened there to ensure that we address it as quickly as possible,” the commissioner added.
