Residents of Akure in Ondo State have expressed growing concern over a persistent offensive odour reportedly spreading across parts of the city at night, as former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mrs. Jumoke Akindele, called for an urgent investigation into its source.
Akindele, in a Facebook post on Tuesday, described the smell as sulphuric and warned that it could pose serious health and environmental risks if left unchecked, urging the media and relevant authorities to identify the source of the disturbing odour.
“Where is this horrible sulphuric smell coming from in Akure in the middle of the night? Can somebody in the press care to find out, please? It doesn’t bode well for our health now or in the future. I smell danger!” she wrote.
The former speaker added that the recurring odour should not be ignored, stressing that the government must act swiftly to protect residents from any potential health hazards. She maintained that identifying the cause should be treated as a matter of public interest.
Following her post, many residents from different parts of Akure confirmed experiencing the same smell. Some said they initially believed it originated from inside their homes before discovering it was coming from outside, while others urged the Ministries of Environment and Health to launch an immediate investigation.
Residents from Oba-Ile, Oda Road and other neighbourhoods said the odour is usually more noticeable late at night, describing it as unbearable. They appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to direct the appropriate agencies to determine its source and prevent possible environmental or public health consequences.
Some residents also alleged that previous complaints to the Ministry of Environment had yielded no response, while others claimed the strange smell had lingered for months and appeared to be spreading across more parts of the state. A resident of neighbouring Ekiti State also claimed a similar odour had been noticed in Ado-Ekiti in recent months.
As of press time, the Ondo State Government had yet to issue an official statement on the mysterious night-time odour, despite increasing calls from residents for an urgent investigation and public reassurance.
