AKURE ODOUR CRISIS: AIYEDATIWA'S AIDE COUNTERS ENVIRONMENT COMMISSIONER, SAYS SOURCE STILL UNKNOWN

The Ondo State Government has admitted that it is yet to identify the source of the persistent offensive odour troubling residents of Akure, the state capital.

This latest position, disclosed by the Special Adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Communication and Strategy, *Allen Sowore*, directly contradicts an earlier assurance by the Commissioner for Environment, *Dr. Tob Loko*, who had on September 22, 2026 announced that an investigation report on the environmental nuisance was ready and would soon be formally presented to the government.

Speaking during a radio interview on Tuesday, November 3, Sowore admitted that investigations conducted by experts from Abuja and abroad had failed to establish the source of the odour.

> "We have not discovered the source of the offensive odour. If we had known or discovered it, we would have reacted accordingly," Sowore said.

> "As we speak, none of the investigations conducted by the experts has revealed the source of the problem."

Sowore further disclosed that the companies earlier suspected and subsequently closed down over the matter were not responsible, as the odour persisted despite their closure.

> "The companies we suspected and subsequently closed have not stopped the offensive odour. Despite their closure, the problem persists," he said.

He added that the government would not relent in its efforts, noting that the odour had troubled residents for about eight months.

The conflicting positions between the Governor's aide and the Commissioner have now placed the Ministry of Environment under renewed scrutiny, particularly over what exactly the September investigation report contained, and whether it established any scientific findings at all.

For months, residents across Oba-Ile, Shagari, Onigari, Ijoka, Alagbaka, Oda Road, Arakale and other parts of Akure have continued to complain of the pungent smell, which is often strongest between 2am and 5am. Many have reported headaches, throat irritation, difficulty in breathing, and anxiety over the health implications.

With the Governor's spokesperson now admitting that the source remains unknown despite months of investigation and engagement of experts, the Ondo State Government faces renewed pressure to explain the apparent gap between the Commissioner's September assurance and its current position.

The government must now explain what happened to the report Dr. Loko declared ready, disclose what its investigations have actually established, and provide a clear timeline for identifying and permanently eliminating the source of the offensive odour.

Residents deserve transparency, accountability, and above all, a safe and healthy