By Kayode Olabanji, Okitipupa

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Ayetoro community in Ilaje Local Government area of Ondo State was established in 1947 as a Christian settlement by a group of prophets. The community brought Nigeria into the comity of boat-building nations with their fishing technology, building fishing trawlers, including the Western Explorer.

They also established textile, soap, and shoe manufacturing industries, as well as ice-making, laundry and bakery industries. Additionally, they set up a technical college and workshop for training and skill development.

Ayetoro, once a thriving community, is now on the brink of collapse due to a devastating erosion that has eroded 90 per cent of its habitable land. The community has lost almost all of its habitable land, leaving many residents without homes or a place to settle. Over 700 houses and factories have been destroyed, with the erosion claiming numerous structures and leaving the community without essential infrastructure. The financial impact of the erosion is staggering, with estimated losses running into billions of naira, residents claim.

Despite numerous calls and protests by inhabitants for both the federal and state governments to come to their rescue by finding lasting solutions to the incessant sea incursion ravaging the area,  a significant  response is still being awaited. Delegations from the government at various levels have visited the area to provide relief materials to the affected people, but residents continue to clamour for a lasting solution.

The ocean surge has been a challenge facing the Ayetoro community for over 20 years, resulting in the loss of over 10 kilometers of land-to-sea surge. Many residents and indigent people have become homeless, and Ayetoro, otherwise known as a ‘Happy City’ due to the unique communal lifestyle of its inhabitants, has lost its happiness and is almost becoming a ghost of itself due to  constant sea incursion.

The community, comprising no fewer than 400 villages and towns, is said to be in this predicament due to natural and human activities, worsened by the abandonment of a multi-billion naira shore protection project that was first awarded in 2004 and again in 2009 by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Residents continue to cry out to the federal and state governments to save their souls and rescue the community from incessant ocean surges. They demanded shoreline protection and expressed frustration over the lack of action despite promises made.

In response to the dire situation the traditional  ruler of the community, Oba Oluwanbe Ojagbohunmi JP, the Ogeloyinbo of Ayetoro,  appealed to governments at all levels to come to their aid. He called on the NDDC,Ondo State Oil Producing Areas  Development  (OSOPADEC), and the state government to help protect the community from the devastating effects of the ocean surge.

Efforts to reach out to federal and state governments and agencies regarding the sea incursion caused by climate change and oil exploitation had been unsuccessful, sources disclosed. Residents, including Pa Bankole Joshua, one of the founders of the community, expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of Ayetoro and fear the community may become extinct if  urgent  actions are not taken.

Mrs. Arowolo Mofeoluwa, an elderly woman in the church, highlighted the challenges faced by women and children in the community, including limited access to education and jeopardized businesses due to the ocean surge. The community continued to appeal to the government for assistance in preventing further destruction and preserving their way of life.

Similarly, Comr. Akingboye Thompson, Personal Assistant to Ogeloyinbo of Ayetoro, said it is very important that the government and relevant stakeholders take immediate action to protect the shoreline and prevent the total erosion of the community.

“It would be a catastrophic failure of leadership if the whole community is wiped out before taking action.

“The ocean surge has led to the loss of homes and livelihoods. Many residents have been displaced after losing their houses, businesses, and fishing grounds, leaving them without a means of livelihood. The resultant social, economic, and cultural disruptions have deeply affected the community.

“We are tired of the endless promises to begin the shoreline protection project. We need immediate, short-term solutions to prevent the ocean from further encroaching on our land. Our homes, livelihoods, and very existence are at stake,” he lamented.

The residents outlined urgent steps the government should take, such as; implementing temporary measures to prevent further erosion, e.g. placing sandbags, rocks, or other barriers and deploying short-term shoreline stabilization solutions, coupled with dredging the ocean several metres  away from habitable land and using large stones as wave breakers.

“Developing and executing a comprehensive long-term shoreline protection plan, including the construction of a permanent seawall, groins, and breakwaters,” they added.

Other measures they suggested are: providing support for displaced residents, including alternative housing, livelihood restoration, access to social services, and initiating environmental restoration projects, such as replanting mangroves, restoring fish habitats  and protecting vital ecosystems.

 Prof. Isaac Olaniyan, a lecturer at Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), while speaking in an interview, emphasizes the severe implications of these surges, which, he said, are largely driven by strong winds, low atmospheric pressure, and rising sea levels exacerbated by climate change.

The water resources and environmental engineering expert noted that ocean surges are a major concern in coastal areas and Ayetoro in Ondo State, Nigeria, is no exception saying that these surges occur when ocean water advances toward the shore under the effect of strong winds at low atmospheric pressure, causing flooding and erosion.

Olaniyan added that in the case of Ayetoro, the community has been severely impacted by ocean surges, with thousands of residents left homeless and critical infrastructure destroyed.

“Ayetoro, located in the Ondo South Senatorial District, is part of the Niger Delta, which is particularly vulnerable to ocean surges due to its low-lying terrain and subsidence levels of up to 125mm per year. Climate change is also exacerbating the problem, producing waves with higher energy that act on the coast, leading to ocean surges.

“The impact of ocean surges on Ayetoro has been devastating, with the community facing significant challenges in terms of displacement, infrastructure damage, and environmental degradation.

“The solution to this problem may be approached through a combination of measures, such as coastal protection using hydraulic structures, infrastructure repair, sustainable land-use planning, and climate-resilient or climate-change mitigation strategies,” he explained.

The measures may be capital-intensive, but when human lives are involved, no investment is too much, especially in an oil-rich community, Prof Olaniyan noted.

“The erosion of Ayetoro is not just a local tragedy but a national failure to protect a historic community. As an oil-rich region, the Niger Delta deserves more than neglect and broken promises. The human cost displacement, cultural loss, and environmental degradation are too great to ignore. Residents continue to implore the government to fulfill its promises and prevent further destruction. Ayetoro may still have a chance to reclaim its lost glory, but only if decisive action is taken now,” he concluded.