Sea Incursion: Senator Faduyile Seeks Urgent FG Intervention to Save Ayetoro Community

Sea Incursion: Senator Faduyile Seeks Urgent FG Intervention to Save Ayetoro Community

By Goodness Ekpang

Abuja (Core Reporters) – Senator Francis Faduyile has called on the Federal Government and relevant intervention agencies to urgently address the devastating sea incursion threatening to wipe out Ayetoro, a coastal community in Ondo State, warning that more than 80 per cent of the town has reportedly been overtaken by the ocean.

The senator, who described Ayetoro as a historic community renowned for its communal living and strong social bonds, said the persistent ocean surge had destroyed homes, disrupted economic activities and threatened the cultural identity and survival of the people.

In a motion “‘Urgent need for immediate and comprehensive Shoreline Protection to save Ayeturo Community in Ondo”

Faduyile called on the Federal Government, relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), as well as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to urgently implement measures to halt the incursion and restore the livelihoods of affected residents.

Speaking on the Senate’s intervention, the lawmaker said Ayetoro had suffered years of coastal erosion, forcing residents to relocate inland as the advancing ocean continued to consume portions of the community.

According to him, the situation has deteriorated to the point where large areas that once formed part of the town have been submerged, leaving behind extensive muddy terrain and severely limiting the space available for habitation and economic activities.

He described Ayetoro as a community whose tradition of communal living had earned it admiration across the region, expressing concern that continued environmental destruction could eventually erase the town’s identity.

The senator warned that the disappearance of Ayetoro would mean the loss of an ancestral home for generations of indigenes whose families had lived there for decades.

He said the crisis extended beyond the destruction of buildings, noting that fishing, the principal occupation of residents, had been adversely affected by environmental degradation and the deteriorating condition of surrounding waters.

The resulting loss of livelihoods, he said, had compounded the hardship faced by residents, many of whom had lost their homes and means of economic survival.

The lawmaker added that Ayetoro was not the only community facing the threat, as several smaller settlements in the surrounding coastal area had also suffered significant destruction from the advancing sea.

He therefore urged the Federal Government to move beyond expressions of concern and provide practical solutions capable of checking the ocean’s advance and protecting vulnerable communities.

The senator also appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials and other forms of assistance to residents who had been displaced or severely affected by the disaster.

Senate Committees to Monitor Implementation

Addressing concerns about how the Senate would ensure that its intervention translated into concrete action, Faduyile said the motion included provisions for follow-up and accountability.

He explained that relevant Senate committees had been mandated to liaise with the appropriate federal ministries, departments and agencies and report back to the chamber within four weeks.

He added that the Senate Committee on Legislative Duties had also been placed on notice to facilitate further consideration of the matter at the appropriate time.

The senator, however, stressed that the intervention would not end with the adoption of the motion, promising to revisit the issue if the expected response from the relevant authorities failed to materialise.

He said he would continue to monitor developments in Ayetoro and raise the matter again if there were no appreciable signs of government intervention.

Using a Yoruba proverb to underscore his determination, the lawmaker said the persistence of a problem required continued efforts to address it until a lasting solution was achieved.

Why NDDC Is Central to the Intervention

On the respective roles of the NDDC and the South-West Development Commission, the senator said the scale and geographical character of the crisis made the Niger Delta intervention agency particularly relevant.

He acknowledged that the South-West Development Commission could also contribute to efforts to address the problem but noted that the commission was still in the process of establishing its operational structures.

According to him, the financial resources required to tackle the coastal erosion crisis were substantial and could place considerable pressure on the newly established commission if the project became its immediate priority.

He argued that the NDDC, having operated for a longer period, was better positioned to take a leading role in coordinating the intervention, particularly given the environmental challenges associated with the interaction between river systems and the Atlantic Ocean in the Niger Delta region.

The senator also disclosed that interventions had reportedly been approved for Ayetoro in the past, although he expressed uncertainty over the extent to which those measures had been fully implemented.

He said sustained pressure would be necessary to ensure that previous commitments and any new government decisions translated into tangible results for the affected communities.

The lawmaker, however, maintained that the South-West Development Commission would also be called upon to contribute when necessary, stressing that all relevant institutions must work together to prevent the further destruction of Ayetoro and neighbouring settlements.

He said the ultimate objective was to protect lives and property, restore economic activities and ensure that the historic coastal community remained habitable for future generations.