Ondo Coastal Community Sacked By Ocean Surge |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

It was tales of woe as residents of Ayetoro community, in Ondo state, were visited by heavy ocean surge, midnight Saturday, leaving several thousands of residents homeless.

The surge, from the Atlantic ocean, which has become an annual occurrence, swept through homes, and washed away several household items.

The history of ocean surge in the coastal area of Ondo state is as old as those communities which have no other place to settle than coastline where their major occupation is fishing.

Reports have it that the coastline habitants, who are mainly Ilaje, Ijaw and other non- natives from neighbouring states of Ogun and Delta states have been cohabiting there peacefully until oil exploration commenced in the area.

The Niger/Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) an intervention agency set up by the federal government to oversee development especially in the coastal areas seems to be helpless of the present situation.

A spokesman for Ayetoro community, Mr Emmanuel Aralu recounted that contract for the shoreline protection and dredging of the ocean had been awarded since 2006 with the contractor not been able to do anything tangible.

According to him, the latest surge affected not less than  2,000 residents of the community.

Aralu, who is Secretary of the Ayetoro Youths Congress pointed out apart from the palace of the monarch, which has been taken over by the sea years back, over 100 houses were affected by the latest incident.

On the delay in handling the dredging of the seashore, the community leader said the company has no proper equipment and expertise to handle the shoreline protection project.

“The surge occurred in the middle of the night when many people had retired to bed and before we made moves to start packing, most of the houses had been submerged, we had to evacuate the people from their houses.

“No life was lost but the economy of the community will not be the same again.

The Ondo State government should come to the aid of the community and its residents.

“We want to appeal to the state government and other relevant agencies to immediately come to our aid and give necessary assistance before the surge sacks the whole community.”