NDDC pledges to tackle Ayetoro sea incursion with technology as OSEMA seeks international aid

By Our Correspondent

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC has pledged to put a permanent halt to the ecological disaster at Ayetoro community in Ilaje Local Council of Ondo State following the tragedy that struck as a result of the  incursion from the Atlantic Ocean ravaging the community. According to the Executive Director of Projects of the Commission, Charles Ogunmola, the NDDC is exploring ways of deploying technology to tackle the menace, which had become a regular occurrence in the past 12 years.

 

Ogunmola, who gave the assurance during the distribution of relief materials to affected victims of the ocean surge and to assess the impact of the incursion, stressed that the disaster would be solved in two phases.

On his part, Director, Ondo State Office of the NDDC, Salami Olaniyi Okogie, said: “When the information got to us, the NDDC set up machinery in place to quickly address the challenges.”

Responding on behalf of the community, the traditional ruler of the town, the Ogeleoyinbo of Ayetoro, Oba Micah Olaseni Ajijo, attributed the frequent surges to the failure of the NDDC to properly study the community.

The monarch, who was represented by the Bobagunwa of Ayetoro, Jeseri Iwasanmi Ajijo, said: “No proper study was carried out since 2004 when NDDC decided to move into the community, and that is why we are having this problem.

“We want to appreciate the Ondo State government and the Federal Government for what they have done so far. But the truth of the matter is that we are really disturbed. We hope that the government will implement what they have promised to do for us to find a lasting solution to the sea incursion in our community.

Secretary of the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA), Olufemi Obideyi, appealed to the international organisations to also come to the aid of Ayetoro community to save it from going into extinction. He, however, said all hands must be on deck towards finding a lasting solution to the sea incursion.