The Ilaje Advancement Forum (IAF), a youth group in the riverine area of Ondo State, has appealed to the state government to take measures to check sea encroachment in the community.
IAF, a socio-cultural group of Ilaje people, made the appeal in a statement signed by its Co-Convener, Mrs Juliet Tokunbo-Ehinmowo, on Wednesday in Ayetoro.
The group said that the sea encroachment, which flooded Ayetoro, a coastal community, had about 500 metres of their land encroached and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.
The IAF said that a disaster was looming if government did not take necessary steps to tackle the menace.
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According to the group, the sea encroachment has had devastating effects on the community since lands and buildings had been destroyed.
“The government is turning deaf ears to our cries to save our souls, cries and yearnings everyday.
“Ilaje communities are gradually going into extinction and yet, we have the three tiers of government that supposedly care for the masses, but they didn’t yield to our cries.
“We have prominent sons and daughters in high places who need hammering vehemently on the need to safe Ilaje nation from this catastrophe,“ the group said.
The youth group appealed to Ondo State Oil Producing Areas (OSOPADEC), the Nigeria Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Ministry of Environment officials and political office holders at the state and National Assembly to safe them.
The group described the situation as pathetic since politicians would always come to the communities to campaign for votes during elections.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the sea broke its banks and took over communities, while residents recounted their losses. (NAN)