By Saheed Ibrahim & Kayode Olabanji

Residents of Ayetoro Community in Ilaje Local Government area of Ondo State have again raised alarm over the total submersion of their community by the Atlantic Ocean.

The riverine community had over the years been victim of ravaging sea incursion.

The Hope gathered that about 500 buildings, the community town hall, schools, power station, businesses and other key infrastructures have been washed away while water, businesses, health institutions and socio-cultural systems of the people have been damaged, while over 90 percent of the residents have fled to other settlements.

Our correspondent also observed that Embankment project had been awarded twice by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) but none was completed.

Few years ago, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu approached the World Bank over the incessant sea incursion in the community. This was followed by the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP intervention.

The Hope gathered that the project design had been completed but contractors are yet to move to site for implementation.

In an exclusive interview with The Hope, the community’s spokesperson, Prince Victor Akinluwa said people in the community now live in uncomfortable situations.

“Devastation happens every day. The sea incursion is a great menace to Ayetoro. It has affected our landscape. Houses are being lost to the sea, fishing tools have been lost and the people are significantly affected.

“The sea side that contained about 500 houses have now been washed away. People now live in uncomfortable situations because a house that contained five people before now accommodates about 50 as a result of the situation,” he lamented.

“We do not have schools anymore, the location of the primary and secondary schools have been shifted about five times inward; the students are suffering,” the community spokesperson stressed.

He reiterated the appeal of the community to government and concerned quarters to salvage what remains of the community.

Also speaking, one of the youths in the community, Emmanuel Aralu, lamented that the community is helpless and hopeless. We sleep and wake up with the ocean destroying our property to an unbearable level.

“The level of damage done by the sea incursion in Ayetoro community to both life and property cannot be estimated.

“The structures that the sea has destroyed are enormous. If we begin to count, we can count from today till the next day.

“The initial landmass of the community before the sea submerged it, he said Ayetoro was about 3km away from the sea shoreline.

While saying the community has become almost inhabitable, he said the incursion of dirt by the sea water has led to outbreak of diseases.

“We don’t even know where the dirts come from, and they are hazardous to our health, especially to the health of the young ones, with cholera taking the lead.”

He rued that despite several cries, letters and other efforts made in the past, the community continued to suffer in neglect.

“We vote and participate in all our civic responsibilities, and we don’t see any reason why we should be left unattended to,” he added.

Meanwhile, women of Aiyetoro have called for the state’s government intervention in combating the frequent sea surge.

According to the women, who are mostly traders, the persistent sea incursion has cut -short their livelihood.

Speaking with our correspondent, Mrs. Raphel Akinluwa, said the current situation has made most women jobless since the sea has taken over, causing a displacement.

 “To feed ourselves and our families has become so hard,” she said.

“We have been appealing to the government times without number. But it seems the government does not feel concerned. 

Since we have no power of our own, we will continue to appeal to the government, to come to our aid,” Akinluwa said.

Also, Mrs. Mebaanne Kofidoti, said the sea surge has paralyzed their economy in the area, while their  women do not have a place to sell their markets anymore.

“All markets have been wiped away. Even the bigger one that opened every nine days is nowhere to be found, Also, there are no permanent residents. We are been moving from one place to another.

“We have been abandoned, no doubt about that, If the governments have intervened in this matter, things would not have gotten worse to this extent.

Kofidoti, therefore, called on both the federal and the state governments to intensify efforts in getting Aiyetoro back to its feet.