The coastal town of Ayetoro is in danger of being destroyed by the Atlantic Ocean, and the Ondo State House of Assembly has asked to the federal government, the United Nations, the World Bank, and the Niger Delta Development Commission to intervene.
Ocean surge is a problem that the Ayetoro Community in Ondo State’s Ilaje Local Government Area has been dealing with since it was reported that more than half of the community’s land had been taken over. Due to the water sweeping away their homes, many members of the community are now homeless.
In the local government, the Assembly urged the FG and the international community to use contemporary technology right away to save Ayetoro and other communities that are being flooded by ocean surges.
Following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance on the necessity of saving Ayetoro from being washed off by ocean surge, the Assembly made the appeal during the plenary session on Thursday. The motion was introduced by Mr. Abayomi Akinruntan, the representative for Ilaje Constituency 1.
Akinruntan informed the Assembly that residents of the affected areas had lost possessions and property valued in the billions of naira and were temporarily living outside of their homes.
The lawmaker said, “It’s a recurring problem and we seek a lasting solution before the entire homes of my people at the constituency in Ilaje Ugbo, the oil-bearing communities in Ondo State are wiped away.
“I feel agencies like NDDC, NEMA and others need to explore with proper study by experts and deploy the same with best and latest technology for a solution to the ocean surge in the Ilaje communities.
“But presently an immediate settlement plan is required for the people of the affected areas aside from the regular relief materials that should be given to them.”
Additionally, the legislator urged the National Emergency Management Agency to expedite the distribution of aid supplies to the victims.
In his decision on the motion, the Assembly Speaker, Mr. Bamidele Oleyelogun, stated that the Ondo State Government could no longer manage the issue in Ayetoro and other locations alone because the surge had now turned into an annual occurrence and resource-intensive activity, necessitating the involvement of the stakeholders.
