The Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the environmental crisis confronting communities in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, following a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash.
The traditional ruler called for an immediate clean-up of the affected communities, warning that pollution linked to the October 5 crash had contaminated local waterways, disrupted fishing activities and exposed residents to potential health risks.
A statement issued on Friday by the monarch’s media aide, Sesan Forolagba, said the appeal was made during a visit by Oba Akinruntan and members of the Olugbo-in-Council to the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda.
The monarch urged President Tinubu and the Minister of Environment to prioritise the situation, stressing that residents urgently needed government assistance to restore the safety of their environment.
“We are making this passionate appeal on behalf of the good people of Ugboland to our dear President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Minister for Environment.
“We urgently need the Federal Government’s immediate attention and assistance to clean up our environment. The water we drink and use for fishing has been tainted while the air pollution is worsening by the day. We need your rescue now,” he said.
The October 5 incident involved a Nigerian Air Force aircraft that crashed into a swampy area in Igbokoda, leaving 25 people dead, according to reports on the incident. Recovery operations have continued as authorities work to retrieve the wreckage and the victims’ remains.
Since the crash, residents have complained about a persistent offensive smell around the site, while fishermen have reported significant disruptions to their businesses because of concerns over the condition of the surrounding waters.
The situation has raised concerns about the possible effects of the crash on drinking water, aquatic life and the livelihoods of residents who depend heavily on fishing and other water-related economic activities.
Oba Akinruntan, while commending the courage and sacrifices of the armed forces, emphasised that the environmental consequences of the tragedy required urgent attention beyond the ongoing recovery exercise.
He called for swift federal intervention to address the pollution, protect public health and restore normalcy to the affected coastal communities.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Government has said efforts are underway to address the environmental concerns.
The state Commissioner for Information, Idowu Ajanaku, disclosed that fumigation and other sanitisation measures had commenced, adding that the exercise was expected to be completed.
“The efforts are ongoing, the fumigation is going on, we have begun and it would be completed,” Ajanaku said.
The growing concerns surrounding the incident have placed pressure on relevant authorities to ensure that recovery operations and environmental interventions are carried out promptly to prevent further hardship for residents.
For the fishing communities of Ilaje, the priority remains the restoration of safe waterways, protection against potential health hazards and the recovery of economic activities disrupted by the tragedy.
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