By Abbas Nazil
The Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission has renewed calls for urgent intervention to reclaim Ayetoro community from advancing sea incursion, warning that climate change-driven coastal erosion threatens the survival of the historic riverine settlement.
The Executive Chairman of Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, Mr. Biyi Poroye, made the appeal during the 2026 World Environment Day commemoration held in Ayetoro, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
He described the event as a global reminder of the urgent need to address environmental degradation and protect vulnerable coastal communities facing extinction due to rising sea levels and ocean surges.
Poroye warned that Ayetoro and other oil-producing riverine communities are among the worst hit by climate change impacts, particularly sea incursion and land submergence that have destroyed livelihoods and infrastructure.
He revealed that the Atlantic Ocean has already swallowed more than 80 percent of the community’s original landmass, displacing thousands of residents and erasing homes, schools, and businesses.
According to him, between 500 and 700 houses, including schools and health facilities, have been washed away, while over 80 percent of the town’s original streets have disappeared under water.
He said the situation underscores the urgent need for coordinated intervention by the Federal Government, international development partners, and institutions such as the World Bank to support coastal protection efforts.
Poroye added that World Environment Day serves as a call to collective responsibility to strengthen communities, build resilience, and safeguard future generations from worsening climate impacts.
The Commissioner for Environment in Ondo State, Dr. Tom Loko, said the state government under Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa remains committed to tackling climate-related environmental challenges affecting riverine communities.
He urged community leaders, youth groups, and stakeholders to support government initiatives through proper waste disposal, drainage maintenance, and environmental sanitation practices.
Loko emphasized that addressing climate change impacts in coastal areas requires joint effort, stronger partnerships, and sustained community engagement to achieve lasting results.
Also speaking, Ms. Olapeju Olayemi, Ondo State Goodwill Ambassador for Environment, called for humanitarian and long-term adaptation support including coastal protection projects, mangrove restoration, and improved social services.
She noted that repeated flooding has disrupted education, with schools frequently submerged, leaving children in unsafe learning conditions and communities increasingly vulnerable.
The Ogeloyinbo of Ayetoro, Oba Oluwambe Ojagbohunmu, lamented that the community’s cultural heritage and existence are under serious threat from relentless ocean encroachment.
He said climate change, once regarded as a distant academic concern, has now become a daily reality destroying livelihoods and reshaping the geography of the community.
