The people of Ayetoro in Ilaje area of Ondo state have called on the federal government and relevant agencies to rescue their community from ocean surge, which has submerged over 500 houses and rendered many people homeless.
The ocean surge, which has become a perennial problem in the area, also destroyed properties worth millions of naira, including business centres, schools and hospitals.
The secretary of Ayetoro Youth Congress, Emmanuel Aralu said, in a chat with Radio Nigeria, that the surge had taken over more than half of the land of the community, forcing displaced residents to relocate to neighboring communities.
Another youth leader, Thompson Akingboye said the community has lost over 10km of its landscape to the ravaging sea surge since 2015.
Mr Thompson recalled that contracts had been approved twice for the dredging of the ocean but said no work was done on the site, while government never bothered to query or probe those behind the negligence.
The youth leaders blamed the state government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for failing to complete the N6.5 billion shoreline protection contract awarded a dredging company in 2006.
Reporting by Bukola Bardi; Editing by Daniel Adejo and Tony Okerafor