VIDEO: Atlantic Ocean submerges Ayetoro community in Ondo State

Sections in the community of Ayetoro in Ondo State are facing significant challenges as it is being submerged by the Atlantic Ocean, officials have told Western Post.

Bode Olufemi, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), who informed this newspaper on Thursday also revealed that President Bola Tinubu has requested the Minister of the Niger Delta to visit the area.

“Learnt the President has asked the Minister of Niger Delta to visit the place. We have been on it since last year. We even did a documentary we screened in Dubai,” Olufemi said.

“All the monies budgeted by past governments to reclaim the community were stolen and plenty of money since Obasanjo, and Jonathan.

“Yes. In 2003 it was awarded to Garllet Nig Limited for 3.5B. Nothing was done. The contractor didn’t even visit Ayetoro.

“Then again in 2009 it was awarded to Dredging Atlantic for 6.5B. 40 per cent was released to the contractor. Yet the job was not done.”

Western Post online cannot immediately get a response from Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah who is a spokesperson minister of Niger Delta, Abubakar Momoh. His known phone number was not reachable as of the time of filing this report.

Ayetoro, located in Ilaje Local Council in Ondo State, is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and the activities of oil companies. The coastal community has been experiencing increasing threats of extinction due to worsening sea incursions and rising sea levels.