Ayetoro community, a coastal area located in Ilaje Local Council, Ondo State, and on the forefront of climate change and exploration activities of oil companies, is currently threatened with extinction. This is because it is constantly faced by worsening sea incursions and rising sea levels. The waves of the Atlantic ocean terrified the people of Ayetoro as it is a reminder that it is gradually creeping into the midst of the ocean; unlike tourists who find it attractive to behold tides at shorelines.
In 1947, Ayetoro community was established and regarded as the “Happy City”. It has its location along the Atlantic coast in the southern region of Ondo State. It used to be well known for its prosperous riverine settlement across the country, owing to its successful fish trade. The political and social framework of the community also contributed to its prosperity, as it ensured equality and a sense of belonging for every indigene. However, terrible sea incursions and surges turned the “Happy City” into a “Sad City” for its residents.
A 2020 surge displaced about 2,000 people & destroyed 200 homes.
Without urgent intervention, the theocratic community is on the verge of being completely submerged by the Atlantic ocean. Although research stated that the sea incursions are majorly caused by climate change which arose sea levels in the coastline, residents of the community believe the community’s nightmare began in the 1970s, when there was a discovery of crude oil in commercial quantities in the seabed. According to indigenes, turbulent sea incursions and oil spillage began with the quest for oil, rendering inhabitants jobless, helpless and homeless.
Since the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) awarded Ayetoro community a multi-billion naira shore protection project about a decade ago, there have been nothing to prevent the surges from washing away almost half of the community. Towards the end of 2020, a surge reportedly displaced about 2,000 people and destroyed about 200 homes. The traditional ruler of the community, the Ogeloyinbo of Ayetoro, Oba Micah Olaseni Ajijo, also asserted that activities of oil firms have spurred frequent surges in the area.
The community has lost over 10KM of land to turbulent sea surge.
Secretary of the Ayetoro Youth Congress, Emmanuel Aralu, said the most recent sea incursion occurred on April 16, 2023, displacing many residents and causing damage to about 500 houses. The secretary added that the community has tried its best possible to call the attention of state and federal governments to address these ecological disasters but to no avail. From 2015 till the present moment, the community has forfeited more than 10 kilometers of land and properties worth millions of naira to the turbulent sea surge.
Commenting on the delay in tackling this issue, Commissioner for Environment in the state, Sunday Akinwalere, asserted that the New Map arrangement of World Bank is part of the funding intervention for Ayetoro. But due to an insufficient time frame, Ayetoro missed the N19 million fund intervention. The West Africa Coastal Area Management Programme — an arrangement of the World Bank for coastal erosion in West Africa — is also aware of the community’s predicament as the state government enlisted for it.
N30m is needed to save Ayetoro from extinction.
Although Ayetoro has been considered for intervention, there is a need for the Federal Government, under the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Federal Ministry of Finance, to discuss execution with the World Bank. The Commissioner affirmed that the project cannot be handled by the state government. The 2020 estimation of the project was 19 million naira, but now it would have skyrocketed to 30 million naira. However, the governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has established a committee to investigate all areas affecting this coastal region.
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Nigerian community threatened with extinction. – Atlantic ocean gradually submerges Ayetoro, displacing residents. – Express your point of view.
The Nigerian community is facing a grave threat of extinction due to various factors such as economic hardship, political instability, insecurity, and climate change. The government needs to take urgent steps to address these issues and ensure the survival of the Nigerian community.
Nigerian community threatened with extinction. This a serious issue the we need to look into. Life is precious, so government and the community should come together for a better solution. For me i think they should build a great wall to stop the water from coming in
This is a big threat to the community government need to pay full attention to this matter we need to stop the water from getting close to people place in other not cause any damage
It is unfortunate Ayetooro community might have to go into extinction soon. The government should come to their rescue and help them. If there is a way to stop the water from displacing them, that should be done as soon as possible.
It will be better for the community to go into extinction than for people to lose their lives. I will advise that the resident of that community vacated that place before the situation becomes worse
The government must pay strict attention to this issue, since it poses a serious threat to the community because it will be very sad if people are wiped by the Atlantic Ocean.
Wow, so something like this is happening in the country, the best thing to do regarding this is for the residents living around ayetoro to vacate the place for a while and the government should take necessary steps to cater for them at the moment.
It would be wonderful if the government would take prompt action to deal with these problems and ensure that the people of Ayetoro can continue to exist.
Since this poses such a serious risk to the populace, the government must give it its undivided attention. We must prevent the water from reaching populated areas.
It’s wonderful that the neighborhood’s ideological and societal underpinning also helped it flourish, for the same reason: because everyone there felt safe and included.
To save Ayetoro a community in Nigeria from extinction the urgent attention of patriotic Nigerians, stakeholders and the FG are required. There should also be other communities like Ayetoro that is having similar issues. The FG should act fast and save all these communities from extinction.