— Say 80 percent of community affected, N94 b needed to reclaim one community

By Dayo Johnson Akure

The Ondo State Government and the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission have called for international intervention to tackle sea incursion and climate change devastating riverine communities in the state’s coastal areas.

OSOPADEC Chairman, Prince Biyi Poroye, made the call during the 2026 World Environment Day celebration held in Ayetoro, Ilaje Local Government Area.

The event, themed “Climate Resilience Action: Mobilizing Urgent Responses to the Ocean Climate Crisis in Ondo State Riverine Communities – Rising Sea Levels Are Swallowing Ilaje: Time for Urgent Climate Action,” was organised with the Ondo State Ministry of Environment.

It drew government officials, traditional rulers and residents from coastal communities including Ayetoro, Ugbo, Mahin and Awoye.

Poroye said the environmental crisis had gone beyond what local resources could handle.

According to him “We have gotten to the stage that we can no longer keep deceiving ourselves.

” Every environmental challenge is here. It is doable, solutions can be given, it is not spiritual, but we need the international community’s attention to help this area,” he said.

He disclosed that geophysical surveys showed massive funds would be required to reclaim affected communities.

“For example, we are planning a land reclamation for one of the communities in this mandate area. When we look at what it will cost us for just one community, it will cost about ₦94 billion,” Poroye said.

He blamed years of neglect for compounding the problem, saying government alone cannot provide the intervention needed.

“Hence, our calling for the world to come to our rescue and help us to get out of this mess,” he added.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, represented by Commissioner for Environment Dr. Tob Loko, described Ayetoro as one of the most environmentally vulnerable communities in Ondo State and reaffirmed government’s commitment to lasting solutions.

Aiyedatiwa said “I won’t speak for previous governments. As we speak today, the government of Ondo State is concerned.

“We are forward-looking and scouting for how best we can solve this issue so that people living in this area can live peacefully. We have decided to plant trees and pull out dirts from the environment,” Loko said.

The traditional ruler of Ayetoro, Oba Oluwanbe Ojagbohunmi, said the community had battled sea incursion for over two decades with devastating results.

Oba Ojagbohunmi said that “We have lost 80 per cent of our land. Structures, buildings and schools have been destroyed and relocated,” he said.

He noted that elderly residents had developed health complications while children and women remain the most traumatised.

Ojagbohunmi said embankments, shoreline protection and land reclamation are the most effective solutions. “The message is that we need help. Save us now,” he appealed.

Residents also recounted the impact. Mofeoluwa Arowolo said the incursion had destroyed nearly 99 per cent of buildings, leaving families crowded into the few structures still standing.

Arowolo said “We have no shelter again,” he said, adding that the disaster had worsened health challenges, disrupted education and crippled fishing activities.

Another resident, Thompson Akinloye, said repeated displacement had drained residents financially.

According to Akintoye “We no longer have money in our account because we have to keep spending money on relocation anytime the incursion happens. We are pleading to the world to come to our rescue,” he said.