Aiyetoro ocean-surge victims laud Ondo govt for relief materials

• Urge Mimiko to put pressure on FG over embankment project
VICTIMS of the Aiyetoro sea surge in Ilaje Local Council of Ondo State have commended the state government for the multi-million naira relief materials donated to them, urging more pressure on the Federal Government.

The chairman of Aiyetoro Youth Congress (AYC), Mr Ajinde Iretolu, in a statement made available to The Guardian, lauded the state government for its prompt responses to their plight since the recurrent September 1, 2015 sea surges.
While expressing appreciation the relief materials donated to the people, Iretolu however stated that the main concern of the people is the completion of the multi-billion naira shoreline protection project.

The youth leader noted that the state government had always come in the past to palliate their pains and losses, but demanded a lasting solution to the sea incursion that often destroys their valuable properties and threatens their lives.

“We urge Governor Olusegun Mimiko to intensify efforts on the Federal Government for the completion of the embankment project. Our people here are suffering greatly.”

“This project, too, in its abandoned state, oftentimes has cost the state government a lot of money and stress whenever its officials visit us for reliefs,” he said.

Iretolu, together with the youths of the community, agitated that all they wanted from government at all levels is the implementation of the shoreline embankment project in Aiyetoro.

The AYC chairman implored the state government to accelerate the completion of the abandoned multi-billion naira NDDC shoreline protection contract, which, according to him, would save the huge amount being spent on relief materials by the state.

Last week Thursday, relief materials were delivered to the people of Aiyetoro Community, who were twice hit last month, and other communities like Gbabijo by the recurrent sea surge due to the failure of the multi-billion naira shoreline protection contract awarded by NDDC.

The chairman of the commission, Pastor Johnson Ogunyemi, led the state delegation the second time and commiserated with the people on their many losses due to the constant sea incursion.

He stated that the gesture by the state government is one of the necessary measures to be taken by the government in such situation to palliate the untold hardship caused by the natural disaster.

The OSOPADEC boss stated that the efforts were borne out of the caring heart of the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, who acted promptly on the reports laid before him on the critical state of Aiyetoro and other communities hit recently by the surge along the coastline.

“We have started it. What we came here for today is just to donate the relief materials to the people of Aiyetoro. Of course, this is not the only community affected in Ilaje, but we got the first report from this community.