Poisonous Gas: Ogba Junior Grammar School Parents Protest In Lagos

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Monday, March 24th, 2014

Ayo Balogun, Lagos

Parents of students of Ogba Junior Grammar School, Ogba area of Lagos, Nigeria on Monday stormed the office of the Lagos State Governor to protest the continued closure of the school after poisonous gas left over 13 students unconscious recently.

Gov. Fashola of Lagos state, South-West Nigeria

The parents carried placards and demanded for the relocation of the school to another place to avert another disaster or a case where their children would die as a result of gaseous emission.

The parents, who initially gathered at the entrance of the state’s secretariat moved to the Lagos House o Assembly.

At the Governor’s gate, the Chief Security Officer prevented the parents from gaining entrance into the premises of the office, as he asked them to write a formal letter before they could enter the premise.

A parent, identified as Ibikunle, said they were very sure that the governor was aware of the issue at Ogba Junior Grammar School and “it is how to resolve it that prompted this emergency meeting with him. The CSO asked for a few minutes to consult with his superiors and later the parents were admitted in the Lagos House.”

The Commissioners for the Environment, Tunji Bello; Information and Strategy, Lateef Ibirogba; Special Duties, Wale Ahmed; and Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye attended to the protesting parents.

The parents reminded the government that second term examination would start next week Monday, adding that there was no indication that their children would be part of the statewide examination.

They urged the government to get to the root of the poisonous gas, find a lasting solution, or relocate the school.

According to Oladunjoye, the government was already on top of the situation at the school, adding that a lasting solution would be found.