Amidst sadness, Residents of Ayetoro community, in Ilaje local government Area of Ondo state have staged a protest and called on the federal and the state government to save their souls and rescue the community from incessant ocean surge.
Women, youths, school children, and aged people of Ayetoro community in the oil-rich Ilaje local government area of Ondo State staged a peaceful protest, alleging neglect by the state and federal government in the face of a ravaging ocean surge that has rendered over 5000 persons homeless and destroyed critical structures in the community.
The protestors, who carried placards with displaying with different inscriptions, such as “Save our souls, save Ayetoro community lamented the recurring sea incursion that has claimed over 85 per cent of their land.
They regretted that despite the community’s status as a cultural heritage, oil extraction by multinational corporations and the resulting spillages from extractive activities have not only contaminated their waters but also contributed to the worsening sea incursion.
Addressing Newsmen The Kabiesi of the community, Oba Oluwanbe Ojagbonmi JP, the Ogeloyinbo of Ayetoro, community, appealed to the governments at all levels to come to their aid.
Oba Ojagbounmi called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly, and the Ondo State government to save their community from extinction by building embankments to halt the ocean surges. They also urged the NDDC, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, and other relevant agencies to come to their aid.
He demanded a comprehensive audit and urgent probe of the multibillion-Naira funds voted for the community’s coastline protection and the immediate return of contractors to the site.
Some residents lamented the loss of economic livelihoods for many in the community, whose primary source of income came from fish processing. Following the disruption of fishing activities by the ocean surge, increasing health risks associated with daily exposure to petroleum-contaminated water and schools have had to be relocated several times due to the challenges posed by the ocean surge
The protesters requested a massive, fit-for-purpose embankment along the shoreline, informed by the community’s recommendations and scientific research conducted by universities and environmental experts both within and outside the country.
They expressed willingness to support the government’s rebuilding efforts by providing manual labour, if needed, to expedite the process and appealed to state authorities to speedily mitigate the burden of the ocean surge on vulnerable residents, particularly the elderly, who have now reached the limits of their coping capacities.
– Mofeoluwa Arowolo – Resident of Aiyetoro Community
– OWOLABI OLAIDE – STUDENT
– LAWRENCE YOUNG – Resident of Aiyetoro Community
– EMMANUEL AYAOLU – Resident of Aiyetoro Community
– OLUWOLE ALAODA – STUDENT