Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has ordered the fumigation of Igbokoda River and the distribution of protective health kits to residents following concerns over pollution and an offensive smell from the site of last week’s Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash.
The directive comes amid growing fears about possible environmental contamination and health risks in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area, where recovery operations are still ongoing.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, the governor directed the Ministries of Environment and Health to commence extensive fumigation of the affected river to minimise the risk of disease outbreaks.
The state government said the intervention was necessary because the river serves as an important source of livelihood for residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities.
Aiyedatiwa also instructed the Ilaje Local Government Council to arrange water tankers to provide clean drinking water if assessments confirm that the river is severely contaminated and unsafe for domestic use.
The alternative water supply will remain in place until a lasting solution to the pollution problem is implemented.
In addition, the Ministries of Health and Environment have been directed to distribute nose masks and other essential health kits to residents to help protect them from potential health hazards.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian Air Force in its ongoing recovery operations while prioritising the safety and welfare of affected communities.
The aircraft crash occurred on October 5, 2026, when a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft went down in a swampy area of Igbokoda during a routine flight from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos.
The incident claimed the lives of all 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, according to the report.
Recovery efforts have been complicated by the difficult swampy terrain and the submersion of the aircraft in the water. Residents have continued to raise concerns over the strong odour from the crash site and suspected contamination from decomposing remains and leaked aviation fuel.
The monarch of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, had earlier appealed to the Federal and Ondo State governments to speed up the recovery of victims’ remains and aircraft wreckage while addressing the environmental concerns.
The state government has deployed amphibious swamp machines to assist the Nigerian Navy, Air Force, emergency agencies and local divers in accessing the crash site.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has intensified recovery efforts and established a 12-member board of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. The Federal Government has also ordered an investigation into the incident.
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