By Adewale Momoh, Akure
The once-thriving coastal community of Ayetoro, Ondo State, is on the verge of slipping into the belly of the Atlantic Ocean due to the devastating impacts of oil and gas activities.
The environmental degradation facing the community had also been aided by global warming as well as oil exploration, with homes, an iconic worship centre, and a local cemetery destroyed, leaving the community’s existence threatened.
With dwellers of the community also known as ‘Happy City’ seeking government intervention over their plights, they lamented that previous outcries had been met with blind eyes.
The residents expressed their displeasure during a one-day community diagnostic dialogue that brought together coastal and non-coastal community members to assess their environmental challenges and outline actionable steps to protect their heritage, organised by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF).
With the dialogue, highlighting survival stories and community resilience in the face of oil spills, gas flaring, and other ecological threats, the residents revealed that 16 years after the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) awarded the multi-billion-naira shore protection project aimed at rescuing the community, with billions of naira already paid to the contractors, nothing is on the ground to stop the ocean surge that is fast washing the community away.
The traditional ruler of the community, Oba Oluwanbe Ojagbownmi, the Ogeloyinbo of Ayetoro community, appealed to governments at all levels to come to their aid despite the involvement of multinational corporations, which has not only contaminated their waters but also contributed to the worsening sea incursion.
He said, “The training has exposed us to the dangers around us. There is a need to galvanise an effort towards restoration and how to maintain a clean and green environment. I call on all coastal and frontline communities affected by environmental issues to come together and have dialogues that create an avenue for the people to be heard.”
On his part, Oba Ajemosu of Jere land stated that “We are suffering due to ocean surge; we hope that the government will come to our aid. Every community in this area suffers from ocean surges; in a couple of years, this place will no longer exist.
Also, another participant, Mofeoluwa Arowolo, stated that since the encroachment began, economic life has gone, affecting education and all aspects of life.
“As a mother, I have to look for more money to train my children because the sea encroachment has destroyed the schools in this community; up to now, the technical school can no longer be seen. My place of residence has been destroyed. I live in a rented apartment now because of the loss of our house; our health centre and our health are gone. We live in panic now because we do not know when houses will go down. We are crying and calling on the government to rescue us.”
Speaking on the essence of the training, Programme Officer at the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Stephen Oduware, said the community faces sea encroachment and occasional oil spills that flow with the tide.
He noted that HOMEF has facilitated meetings with communities to strengthen their capacities to identify environmental, socio-economic, and well-being issues and to mobilise and take action(s) that foster solidarity and protect their environment.
“We are here to put together recommendations to bring out the great impact faced by the people. There is a need for urgent action; government presence must be felt so Ayetoro does not go extinct.”
Over 80 participants from Aiyetoro and neighbouring areas were trained in solidarity-building, advocacy, and grassroots organising, empowering them to demand justice and sustainable change.
