The Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial district Jimoh Ibrahim has raised the alarm that,
Ayetoro is gradually slipping into the belly of the Atlantic Ocean.
He said all was not well in Ayetoro as there are concerns of human insecurity, noting that the issue has caused several damages in the community.
This was just as the Senate mandated the Committee on NDDC to interface with relevant Ministries to work out modalities for instant intervention in the disaster.
This was coming following a motion by the senator titled, “Urgent need for intervention to arrest the incessant sea incursion ravaging Ayetoro Community in Ondo State.”
While presenting the motion, he said, “Ayetoro Community used to be one of the most prosperous riverine settlements in Nigeria due to its thriving trade in fish.”
Stressing that the residents in the community are gradually losing hope, he worried that if nothing is done urgently, the community will be at the verge of being completely lost to the sea.
He said, “The devastating sea incursions and ocean surges have been the albatross of the Ayetoro Community for over two decades with hundreds of homes and properties being destroyed annually resulting to displacement of indigenes of the community and consequently in the disruption of oil exploration in the area.
The surges have become an annual occurrence that successive governments have failed to attend to and serving a daily reminder to the indigenes of Ayetoro that the community is gradually slipping into the belly of the Atlantic Ocean.”
He further said that, “The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as early as 2004, just four years after its creation made commendable attempt to stem the tide by awarding the contract for the construction of a shoreline protective wall designed with a geo-tube technology in Ayetoro to Gallet Nigeria Limited at an original contract sum of N6.4 billion of which 25 per cent was reportedly paid.
The contract was revoked in 2009 for alleged lack of capacity and rewarded to Dredging Atlantic Limited at an undisclosed cost, however eleven years after the new contractor took over, abd sixteen years after the contract was first awarded, there is nothing on ground to show any intervention by the government, thereby creating the wrong impression of ab unconcerned Federal Government.”
In supporting the motion, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) said it is a matter of urgency for the Senate to come to the aid of Ayetoro and come up with possible solutions.
Other Senators who supported this motion are, Gbenga Daniel (APC, Ogun East) and Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin.
The Senate in its resolution Mandated its Committee on NDDC, Environment and Ecology (when constituted) to interface with relevant Ministries to work out modalities for instant intervention in the disaster.
It also mandated the Committee on NDDC (when constituted) to conduct an investigation into the N6.5 billion-shoreline protection contract awarded by the NDDC IN 2006 with a view to finding an alternative solution where necessary to stem the dangerous slide abd report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
It urged the various committees to investigate the contract award of 2009 and report back to the Senate.
It also asked the National and International agencies to live up to their responsibilities while looking into the issue.