Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has directed the Ministries of Environment and Health to commence extensive fumigation of the river in Igbokoda following complaints by residents about a strong stench emanating from the waterway where a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed last week.
The governor also ordered authorities of Ilaje Local Government to prepare water tankers for continuous distribution of potable water to residents if investigations establish that the river has been severely polluted and is unsafe for use.
According to a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, the water supply arrangement will remain in place pending a permanent intervention to address any pollution arising from the crash.
Aiyedatiwa further directed the relevant ministries to provide nose masks and other essential health kits to residents as part of measures to protect them from potential health hazards.
The measures followed complaints from residents over the strong odour from the river, which serves as an important source of livelihood for people in Igbokoda and surrounding communities.
The governor said the state government would continue to provide necessary support to the Nigerian Air Force as recovery efforts continue, while prioritising 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 on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos.
There were 25 people aboard the aircraft, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers.
Search-and-rescue operations were activated shortly after the crash, but the occupants of the aircraft had yet to be located as of the latest update contained in the statement.
The Nigerian Air Force has since constituted a 12-member investigation board to establish the circumstances and causes of the accident and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, ordered sustained search and recovery operations alongside a comprehensive investigation into the crash.
Air Vice Marshal FO Ankeli is to head the investigation board, while Air Vice Marshal EOE Ebiowe, who heads the Investigation and Recovery Team, will coordinate the wider response.
Membership of the board includes specialists in aviation operations, flight safety, piloting, air traffic control, aircraft engineering, maintenance and medical services, among other technical disciplines.
Representatives of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau are also on the board to provide civilian aviation expertise.
According to the NAF, the investigation will examine operational, technical, environmental, human and organisational factors that may have contributed to the crash.
The development comes as recovery efforts continue in the Igbokoda area, with concerns over the possible environmental and public health implications of the accident adding another dimension to the ongoing response.
