The Ondo State Government on Monday made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to come to its aid and stop the incessant surge from Atlantic Ocean that has caused damage at Ayetoro community in Ilaje local government area of the state.
With the last Saturday surge, more than 25 buildings including the only secondary school in the oil producing community have been submerged while over 200 people have been rendered homeless.
The Deputy Governor, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, who represented the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, made the appeal after inspecting the damage caused by the surge in Ayetoro.
Agboola, accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Funso Esan and the Chairman of OSOPADEC, Hon. Gbenga Edema, sympathised with the residents, particularly with those that are directly affected by the sea incursion.
He lamented the loss of houses and property to the disaster, urging the Federal Government to do more in the protection of the oil producing community.
The Deputy Governor, who was a former member of the House of Representatives and chairman House Committee on NDDC suggested that only a modern technology could put an end to the crisis.
His words, “I remember when I was at the House of Representatives, I personally led member of the NDDC to this community and I also traveled to Netherland to look at the modern technology which we felt it would have been able to solve the problem.
“As I am here now, you should know that Ondo State is here, the Secretary to the State Government is here, Chairman Ilaje local government is here all of us is here.
“As a matter of fact, the Govenror would have been here personally but he is away with Mr. President in Netherland. He directed us to be here today to express our feeling, to assess the level of damage and look for best way to prevent future occurrence.
“Certainly you can see this has gone beyond Ondo State government. We will make noise and let the whole world knows that Ayetoro is in danger, Ondo State is in danger and the federal government should rescue this oil producing community.
“Probably what they did in Lagos will solve this problem. Look at Eko Atlantic city, this was able to stop this sea incursion and people are able to drive freely and not only this, they are even building houses on top of the sea.
“Like what the community said, they are about three kilometers away now, alot of houses have been wash away, children cannot go to school. So we are worried but we are assuring our people that we will not relent on our efforts to stop this disaster”.
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