Aiyetoro, Ondo State — The Executive Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Prince Biyi Poroye, has raised fresh concerns over the worsening environmental challenges confronting coastal communities in Ondo State, warning that Aiyetoro and several other riverine settlements face the risk of extinction if urgent intervention is not undertaken.
Speaking on Thursday during the commemoration of the 2026 United Nations World Environment Day held in Aiyetoro, Ilaje Local Government Area, Poroye described the environmental situation in the coastal region as a humanitarian and ecological emergency requiring collective action from governments, international organisations, development partners and local communities.
The event, organised by the Ondo State Government in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and OSOPADEC, focused on this year’s World Environment Day theme, “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.”
Addressing residents, government officials and stakeholders, Poroye said the occasion was more than a ceremonial celebration, stressing that it provided an opportunity to draw global attention to the devastating effects of climate change on vulnerable coastal communities.
According to him, Aiyetoro, once regarded as one of the most prosperous settlements in the Niger Delta region, has suffered extensive destruction as a result of rising sea levels and persistent ocean surge.
“The warning signs are everywhere,” he said. “The houses, schools, hospitals and businesses that once stood on this land have gradually disappeared beneath the ocean.”
Poroye disclosed that the Atlantic Ocean has already swallowed more than 80 per cent of Aiyetoro’s original landmass, leaving hundreds of homes destroyed and forcing thousands of residents to abandon their ancestral homes.
He noted that between 500 and 700 buildings, including the community’s historic church and technical college, had been washed away by the advancing sea, while more than 80 per cent of the town’s original 45 streets had disappeared.
Beyond the physical destruction, he said the environmental crisis has devastated livelihoods, weakened local commerce and destroyed critical infrastructure that once supported economic activities in the area.
The OSOPADEC chairman further revealed that neighbouring communities such as Awoye, Gbagira and Mese are facing even more severe environmental threats, with coastal erosion, flooding and saltwater intrusion increasingly affecting residents’ daily lives.
He explained that the encroaching ocean has contaminated freshwater sources, damaged biodiversity and repeatedly destroyed schools and healthcare facilities, forcing authorities to relocate essential services.
For many residents, he said, the threat extends beyond property loss to the fear of losing their identity and heritage as entire communities risk disappearing from the map.
“People live every day with the fear that the ocean may render them homeless,” he said. “Families are being displaced, communities are being fragmented, and the future of what was once known as the ‘Happy City’ is under serious threat.”
Poroye called on the Federal Government, international development agencies, the United Nations, the World Bank, donor organisations, oil companies and private investors to join efforts aimed at reversing the environmental degradation affecting the region.
He stressed that climate change is not solely the responsibility of OSOPADEC or the Ondo State Government, but a global challenge that requires coordinated action and sustainable solutions.
While acknowledging the commitment of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to the development of oil-producing communities, Poroye urged stakeholders to intensify efforts towards environmental restoration, shoreline protection and climate resilience projects.
He encouraged residents to play their part through tree planting, environmental sanitation and other conservation initiatives aimed at protecting vulnerable ecosystems.
“We must prepare for, adapt to and recover from the impacts of climate change,” he said. “The future of Aiyetoro will be determined by the actions we take today.”
The World Environment Day event ended with renewed calls for urgent intervention to protect Ondo State’s coastal communities from further environmental degradation and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.
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