The Ogun State Government has explained the cause of the recent gas emissions that sparked panic in some schools across Ijebu-Ode, attributing the incidents to natural underground geological activity rather than spiritual causes or security threats.

The clarification was made during a stakeholders’ meeting in Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area, where the Commissioners for Environment, Ola Oresanya, and Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, met with parents, school administrators and development partners to provide updates on the government’s investigation.

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According to Oresanya, scientific investigations identified methane and sulphide gases escaping through underground fractures along established fault lines as the source of the emissions.

He explained that the affected communities are located along the Ifewara-Zungeru Trans-Atlantic fault line, which stretches from Mojoda through Ijebu-Ode and extends into Osun and Niger states.

He said findings linked the fault line to the locations where the gas emissions were recorded, including the affected schools. Oresanya noted that the area was historically forested and largely uninhabited before missionary schools were established there.

The commissioner disclosed that laboratory analyses are ongoing to determine whether the gases are thermogenic or methanogenic in origin.

He also revealed that the state government is investigating the possibility that Ijebu-Ode may sit on significant natural gas deposits beneath the affected communities.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, urged residents to remain calm and adhere to safety precautions whenever gas emissions occur.

She advised residents to cover their noses with wet handkerchiefs instead of face masks and encouraged anyone requiring urgent medical attention to contact the state’s emergency health line, 08112000033.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbadu, assured parents that the affected schools would only reopen after consultations with relevant stakeholders and the completion of necessary safety assessments.

The Head of the Department of Earth Sciences at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Prof. Philip Ikhane, also appealed for calm, advising residents to minimise activities such as borehole drilling and quarry blasting, warning that such activities could worsen the effects of the existing fault lines.

The Ogun State Government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, urging residents and school authorities to promptly report any future gas emissions while investigations continue.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that no government can fully understand or effectively manage Nigeria’s economy if it fails to engage employers and the organised private sector.

Speaking on Monday at the 5th Nigerian Employers’ Summit in Abuja, the Vice President said the Federal Government is committed to maintaining open dialogue with businesses while removing bureaucratic bottlenecks that hinder economic growth.

Represented by the Special Adviser to the President on General Duties and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, Shettima said reforms announced by the government must be experienced by businesses across the country, including Lagos, Kano, Aba and other commercial hubs.

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According to him, the summit comes at a crucial time as Nigeria faces key economic challenges requiring practical solutions and stronger collaboration between government and the private sector.

“The private sector cannot compete on sentiment. It competes on functional infrastructure, predictable policies, fair taxation and reliable energy,” he said.

Shettima commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking difficult economic decisions, saying true leadership requires the courage to implement reforms that lay the foundation for sustainable prosperity.

He explained that the removal of fuel subsidy, foreign exchange reforms and fiscal policy changes were necessary to restore macroeconomic stability, rebuild investor confidence and create an environment where businesses can thrive.

The Vice President noted that businesses are not opposed to paying taxes but are concerned about multiple taxation, regulatory bottlenecks and policies that increase the cost of doing business.

“Our agenda reduces the number of taxes, harmonises administration, protects the vulnerable, supports small businesses and encourages compliance by lowering rates while widening the tax base needed to fund infrastructure,” he stated.

He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to digitising public services and simplifying approval processes to ensure businesses experience the benefits of ongoing reforms without unnecessary delays.

In his welcome address, the Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale Oyerinde, said the Employers’ Summit has consistently produced practical policy recommendations that have helped shape government policies over the past five years.

Oyerinde also announced that from 2027, the Nigerian Employers’ Summit will be expanded into the International Employers’ Summit, bringing together employers and stakeholders from across Africa and other parts of the world.

WhatsApp is set to introduce a new username feature that will allow users to connect with others without having to share their phone numbers, marking a significant step toward improving privacy on the messaging platform.

The Meta-owned app announced on Monday that the upcoming feature is designed to protect users’ personal information by enabling them to create unique usernames that can be shared instead of their mobile numbers.

According to the company, the change will prevent phone numbers from being automatically revealed in situations such as joining large group chats or messaging a person or business for the first time.

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Meta explained that the new system is built with privacy in mind, noting that there will be no public directory or username suggestions.

This means users will only be able to contact someone if they know the person’s exact username.

With more than three billion users worldwide, WhatsApp acknowledged that not everyone may be able to secure their preferred username due to the platform’s vast user base.

The company said the rollout of username reservations will begin gradually over the coming months, with users in different countries being notified when the feature becomes available to them.

In addition, creators, small businesses and organisations will have the opportunity to reserve usernames already associated with their Facebook or Instagram accounts, allowing them to maintain a consistent identity across Meta’s platforms.

The introduction of usernames is expected to enhance user privacy while making it easier for individuals and businesses to communicate without exposing personal phone numbers.