Update On Poisonous Gas: Gov Fayemi Suspends College Provost

By Ayodele Oni

The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has ordered the suspension of the Provost, College of Health Sciences and Technology, Ijero-Ekiti, Dr (Mrs) Cecilia Adebayo.

The Governor has, also, ordered   investigations into the circumstances that led to the hospitalisation of about 100 students of the institution after a controversial fumigation exercise.

Not less than 50 students of the Health College were placed on admission at Ijero Hospital and the Gederal Medical Centre, Ido Ekiti on Wednesday, for inhaling a substance suspected to be poisonous chemical during a fumigation exercise of the College.

This led to protests by the students, who destroyed vehicles, while some of the workers had to escape to avoid being assaulted.

It was gathered that a contractor was fumigating the school premises which resulted in some of the students inhaling the poisonous chemical being used for the fumigation.

One person, a worker, has been confirmed dead as at Thursday afternoon.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, explained that the suspension, was without prejudice to the outcome of a meeting of the College’s Governing Council slated for next week.

The statement added that officials of the Federal Fire Services that carried out the fumigation exercise have also been directed to report  to their office in Abuja.

“Consequently, the Governor has constituted a Panel to investigate the unfortunate incidence.”

Members of the Panel are: Dr Oyebanji Filani, Commissioner for Health and Human Services, as Chairman; Dr (Mrs) Olabimpe Aderiye, Commissioner for Education; Science and Technology; Princess Iyabo Fakunle-Okhiemen, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources; Prof Bolaji Aluko, Director General, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery (OTSD).

Others are Mr. Samuel Omoniyi, Director, State Fire Services; Prof Isola Olomola; Chief (Mrs) Dupe Ogundipe; and Mr Isaac Okeowo Ajayi, Director  Special Duties, Cabinet Office, who is to serve as Secretary.

The Panel, which is to commence work immediately, has two weeks to carry out the investigations and report back to the Governor.

The Governor, who is the Visitor to the College, empathised with all the affected students, even as he has directed that their medical bills be taken over by the State Government, in all the hospitals they are being treated.

He urged students and parents to remain calm and desist from any violent conduct capable of affecting the peace of the town and the State in general.