Faduyile Seeks Urgent FG Intervention to Save Ayetoro from Extinction

The Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Dayo Faduyile, has called on the Federal Government to urgently implement a comprehensive shoreline protection Programme to save Ayetoro community in Ondo State from extinction following years of devastating ocean surges and coastal erosion.

Faduyile made the appeal on Thursday while sponsoring a motion on the urgent need for immediate and comprehensive shoreline protection for the coastal community at the Senate.

He warned that continued sea incursion had destroyed more than 80 per cent of buildings in Ayetoro, displacing residents, destroying livelihoods and threatening the community’s cultural heritage and future existence.

The lawmaker described Ayetoro as a historic and unique community renowned for its strong communal spirit, collective responsibility and commitment to the welfare of its residents.

According to him, the community has, over the years, suffered a gradual but relentless loss of land to the Atlantic Ocean, forcing residents to move further inland as the sea continues to advance.

He lamented that large portions of the community had been swallowed by the ocean, leaving behind extensive areas of mud and devastation.

Faduyile expressed concern that the destruction could eventually erase the community from the map, leaving its indigenes without a homeland to call their own.

He said the situation required urgent government intervention to prevent the complete disappearance of a community that has remained a source of pride to the people of the area.

The senator also highlighted the devastating economic consequences of the environmental crisis, noting that fishing, the major occupation of residents, had been severely affected by coastal degradation and the deteriorating condition of surrounding waters.

He explained that the destruction of homes, fishing activities and other sources of livelihood had worsened the hardship faced by residents, while several neighbouring coastal settlements had also suffered extensive damage from the advancing sea.

The Senate, while considering the motion, called on the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and other relevant agencies, to collaborate with the Ondo State Government and the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) to implement an adequately funded shoreline protection programme for Ayetoro.

The upper chamber also called for a transparent review of previous and ongoing shoreline protection contracts in the community, including their funding, implementation status, outstanding obligations and completion timelines.

It further urged the Federal Government to explore appropriate budgetary provisions and international climate adaptation financing to support sustainable coastal protection, land reclamation where technically feasible, and the restoration of essential community infrastructure.

Recognising the immediate humanitarian consequences of the crisis, the Senate urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and relevant state authorities to provide affected residents with emergency assistance, safe water, healthcare support and temporary shelter.

To ensure implementation, the Senate mandated its Committees on Environment, Niger Delta Development Commission and Special Duties to liaise with relevant ministries, departments, agencies and stakeholders, monitor progress and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

The Committee on Legislative Compliance was also directed to monitor compliance with the resolutions.

Speaking on his plans to ensure that the resolutions translate into concrete action, Faduyile said the Senate had incorporated follow-up mechanisms into the motion by mandating relevant committees to engage government agencies and report on progress.

He stressed that he would continue to monitor developments in Ayetoro and return the matter to the Senate if there were no appreciable signs of intervention.

The senator maintained that the struggle to save the community would not end with the adoption of the motion, insisting that sustained pressure would be necessary to secure the required government response.

On the roles of development commissions, Faduyile said the NDDC remained central to the intervention because of its experience and previous involvement in shoreline protection efforts in the Niger Delta region.

He acknowledged the potential contribution of the newly established South-West Development Commission but observed that the scale of funding required for the project could pose a significant challenge to the commission at its early stage of operation.

According to him, the NDDC had previously approved interventions relating to the coastal crisis, although questions remained about the extent to which those interventions had been effectively implemented.

He said the status of previous projects needed to be established to ensure accountability and prevent further delays in addressing the environmental emergency.

Faduyile, however, did not rule out involving the South-West Development Commission in the intervention, saying the commission could be called upon to contribute when necessary.

He emphasised that saving Ayetoro would require coordinated action, adequate funding, effective project implementation and sustained oversight by relevant government institutions.

The senator called on the Federal Government and other stakeholders to act swiftly, warning that further delays could lead to additional destruction of property, loss of livelihoods and the permanent disappearance of the historic coastal community.

He said the ultimate objective was to halt the advancing sea, restore the economic activities of residents and preserve Ayetoro for future generations.