Following incessant ocean surge in Ayetoro in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, the  Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project Unit has commenced work to stop the menace.

Hundreds of houses and schools have been swept away by the sea in the past few years and efforts made by the government to resolve the problem have not been successful.

To this end, the NEWMAP, in support of the World Bank and the Ondo State Government, had awarded the contract to a firm in a bid to end the scourge.

Speaking on the development, the NEWMAP Coordinator in the state, Marcus Adewodun, said the state government had approved the first phase of the project which involved studies and the design of the Ayetoro sea area.

According to him, the studies have been designed in a way that will accommodate everybody in the area, starting from engagement of the youth of the area in carrying out the assignments.

This will be followed by the main work that will put the sea in its right place.

Adewodun explained that there were many other components of the project which would be revealed as the work progressed.

He sued for the total support of the residents of the community, saying, “The company representatives will start living with them through the course of their work in the area.”

Speaking on  behalf of the state House of Assembly, a member , Mr Success Torokerojor, said the Assembly would ensure that the necessary legal framework for the quick implementation of the project would be put in place.

Torokerojor , who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, said, “The committee will not relent in its oversight function to put the contractor handling the project on the his toes.”

He appealed to the people in the community, especially the youth, to be peaceful and law-abiding to enable the contractor deliver the project at the appropriate time.

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