𝗔𝘆𝗲𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗼'𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀: 𝗜𝗹𝗷𝗮𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗼 𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

By NigerDelta Voice,

𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮, 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮

Fresh concerns have emerged across the Ilaje coastline of Ondo State as residents of riverine communities renewed calls for urgent shoreline protection projects, warning that the continuous encroachment of the Atlantic Ocean could erase more historic settlements if immediate action is not taken.

The renewed appeal follows years of devastating sea incursions that have left the once-thriving coastal community of Ayetoro battling for survival, with homes, schools, churches, public infrastructure and economic assets steadily disappearing beneath advancing ocean waters.

A NigerDelta Voice assessment of the affected communities revealed that the only secondary school in Ayetoro has been relocated five different times over the years as a direct consequence of persistent sea incursions and coastal erosion.

The findings also indicate that several residential buildings, public facilities and community landmarks have either collapsed into the Atlantic Ocean or remain under constant threat as the coastline continues to recede.

Residents lamented that what was once regarded as one of the most prosperous riverine communities in Ondo State has gradually become a symbol of the devastating effects of coastal erosion, climate change and delayed government intervention.

Community leaders, youth organisations, fishermen and women expressed concern that neighbouring coastal communities could face similar environmental disasters if comprehensive shoreline protection measures are not urgently implemented.

They called on the Ondo State Government, the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Ecological Project Office and other relevant federal agencies to jointly develop and execute sustainable coastal defence projects across the Ilaje axis.

Stakeholders noted that emergency relief materials alone would not address the growing environmental crisis, insisting that permanent shoreline protection structures, sea walls, embankments and erosion control works are urgently required to protect vulnerable communities from further destruction.

The prolonged delay in executing the Ayetoro shoreline protection project has remained one of the most controversial environmental issues in the Niger Delta.

Investigations show that the NDDC awarded the Ayetoro shoreline protection contract on 15 December 2004. However, the project was later terminated after the contractor failed to execute the work. In 2009, the Commission re-awarded the project to another contractor, but years later the shoreline protection works had still not been completed, leaving the community exposed to relentless ocean surges.

The failure to deliver the project has continued to attract national attention. In 2020, the House of Representatives expressed concern over the zero-performance level of the shoreline protection contracts and urged the Federal Government, the NDDC, the Ecological Project Office, the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to undertake urgent intervention and provide relief to affected residents.

Multiple independent investigations have also documented how the abandoned shoreline protection project has left Ayetoro increasingly vulnerable to sea incursions, despite billions of naira reportedly committed to the intervention over the years.

Residents appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct all relevant agencies to treat the Ayetoro environmental crisis as a national emergency, stressing that saving the community would also protect thousands of livelihoods dependent on fishing, maritime trade and other coastal economic activities.

They argued that beyond protecting lives and property, restoring the Ilaje coastline would preserve an important part of Nigeria's cultural heritage and safeguard one of the country's strategic oil-producing coastal regions.

As the Atlantic Ocean continues its relentless advance, stakeholders insist that the time for feasibility studies and repeated promises has passed. They urged the Federal Government, the Ondo State Government, OSOPADEC, NDDC and all relevant intervention agencies to move from commitments to concrete action before more communities are permanently lost to the sea.