Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has directed the state Ministries of Environment and Health to fumigate the river in Igbokoda following residents’ complaints about a strong stench emanating from the waterway where a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed last week.
The directive is aimed at preventing a possible disease outbreak, as the river serves as a major source of livelihood for residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, the governor also directed the Ilaje Local Government authorities to provide water tankers for the continuous supply of potable water if the river is confirmed to be severely polluted and unsafe for use.
The arrangement will remain in place pending a lasting solution to the pollution.
Aiyedatiwa further ordered the distribution of nose masks and other essential health kits to residents to protect them from potential health hazards.
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The governor reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian Air Force’s ongoing recovery efforts and safeguarding the welfare and safety of residents in the affected community.
The NAF ATR-42 aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, crashed on October 5, 2026, while reportedly travelling from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos on a routine mission. The aircraft had 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers.
Despite the activation of search-and-rescue operations, the occupants had yet to be located as of the report.
On Tuesday, the Nigerian Air Force constituted a 12-member board of inquiry to determine the circumstances and causes of the crash and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
The board, headed by Air Vice Marshal FO Ankeli, comprises aviation and technical specialists, alongside representatives of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau.
The NAF said the investigation would examine operational, technical, environmental, human and organisational factors that may have contributed to the accident.