The Nigerian Senate has urged the Federal Government to take immediate action to protect Aiyetoro and other coastal communities in Ondo State from destructive Atlantic Ocean surges, warning that continued shoreline erosion threatens lives, property and livelihoods.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Dayo Faduyile during plenary on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Lawmakers expressed concern over the worsening situation in Aiyetoro, Ilaje Local Government Area, where persistent sea incursions have destroyed homes, public infrastructure and important community landmarks.
The Senate cited reports indicating that approximately 80 per cent of buildings in Aiyetoro had been lost to the advancing ocean. It warned that the destruction had affected schools, healthcare facilities, places of worship and traditional institutions, exposing more residents to displacement.
The lawmakers called on the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and other relevant agencies to collaborate with the Ondo State Government and the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) on a comprehensive, adequately funded shoreline protection programme.
They also demanded a transparent review of previous and ongoing coastal protection contracts in Aiyetoro, including their funding, implementation status, outstanding obligations and expected completion dates.
The Senate urged the government to consider budgetary provisions and international climate adaptation financing to support sustainable coastal protection, appropriate land reclamation and the restoration of damaged infrastructure.
In addition, lawmakers called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and relevant state authorities to provide immediate humanitarian assistance, including temporary shelter, safe drinking water and healthcare support for affected residents.
Aiyetoro has experienced severe coastal erosion for more than two decades, with successive interventions failing to halt the advancing ocean.
In 2023, the Senate raised concerns over an NDDC shoreline protection contract reportedly valued at approximately ₦6.5 billion, calling for an investigation into its implementation.
The community's traditional ruler, Oba Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi, also disclosed in an April 2025 interview that approximately 170 additional buildings had been lost between 2020 and 2025.
The latest Senate resolution renews pressure on federal and state authorities to address the environmental crisis and account for earlier shoreline protection efforts.
However, the resolution does not establish that new funding has been released or that construction work has commenced.
For residents of Aiyetoro and neighbouring coastal settlements, the effectiveness of the proposed intervention will depend on the implementation of measures capable of reducing further destruction and protecting vulnerable communities.
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