Date Published: 06/07/09

Mimiko tackles sea incursions in Ondo riverine communities

Reprieve appears on the way for the riverine people of Ajapa and Oroto communities in Ilaje Local Government area of Ondo State who have been ravaged by constant sea-incursion as the Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko last weekend assured them of a permanent solution to the menace of the relentless ocean.

Dr. Mimiko’s assurance came during a top-flight government delegation which met with leaders of the two communities who had being at loggerheads over the cause of the sea menace.

 The governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Politics Affairs, Hon. Boluwaji Kunlere, said government was very concerned about the welfare of the people in the area hence government  responses to their  problems on time.

The Governor’s representative disclosed that following a petition to the government by the people of Ajapa over Atlantic sand-bar incursion which has been ravaging their community through a canal allegedly opened to sea by the Oroto people, the governor set up a committee comprising members from both the Ilaje, Ijaw extractions as well as OSOPADEC representatives, the Commissioner for Environment and the two local governments in the area to look into their problems.

The Ajapa community leaders had insisted that the ocean sand-bar spillage to their waterways through a trunk ‘A’ canal allegedly opened by the Oroto people.

At separate meetings held by the government with the leaders of the two communities in Ajapa and Oroto over the weekend however, leaders of the two communities namely: Williams Makka,  A B. Monene and Chief A.A Mofun representing Ajapa and T.O Ojulowo, Chief Olajide Ogona, Ojulowo Omotayo, Damilola Ojulowo, the youth leader and Mrs. R.A Omoju, they all agreed that the problem was more of ecological than being man-made as alleged, noting that  the  ocean-sandbar had a negative effect on the livelihood of the two communities.

The Ajapa community complained that the channels had brought untold hardship on their people noting that the oceans spillage brought along insects which had eaten up the iron wood used to build their houses. They also said that the salty ocean water had destroy their boat engines which hitherto used to last for five to six years but now only last between two and three years.

  The two communities however agreed that the two communities were affected negatively and that the only lasting solution to the many problems the channel had brought to their people was to cooperate with government to construct beach pilling to block the five channels spots as to prevent spillage of ocean water to the communities.

The communities also urged government to dredge their waterways in order to remove the ocean sandbar and make the waterways navigable.

One of the women leader in the communities Mrs. Rodia Omodun however called on government to extent its micro-credit to their people, since the ocean problem had deprive them means of their livelihood.

Hon Kunlere however assured the people of immediate government attention and underscore the need for the two communities to live together in peace.  While noting that Ondo State was the only state in the Niger Delta region that was not in confrontation with the Federal government, Kunlere appealed to the people not to allow the enemies of development to deprive them of their part in the new government in the state.

“You should not give room for disgruntled people to use your communities as a launching pad to confront the Federal Government. This government wants you all to sustain the peace being enjoyed in the state.”

 He assured them that when the committee submits its reports the governor will attend to their problem.