The current Board of the NDDC will proffer permanent solution to Ocean Surge in Aiyetoro-Ilaje – NDDC Executive Director Project, Charles Ogunmola
_”I am not in Aiyetoro as an observer, I am here to see what NDDC can do as a matter of urgency to prevent the sea incursion”_
In an attempt to bring a lasting solution to the ocean surge in Ilaje Local Government area of Ondo State, Nigeria, the Executive Director Project, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Charles Ogunmola has led a delegation team to flag off the distribution of Palliatives to the victims of Aiyetoro’s sea incursion in Ilaje Local Government area of Ondo State.
The palliatives were jointly donated by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Rural Africa Health Initiative (RAHI)
The NDDC Director, Ondo State office while speaking with Coastal Renaissance said Ogunmola’s visit to Ilaje was mainly to flag off the distribution of Palliatives donated to Aiyetoro victims and also to inspect devastation effect of sea incursion on Aiyetoro community for proper attention by the NDDC.
The delegation team led by the NDDC Executive Director Project, Mr. Charles Ogunmola, had, Mr. Gordon Okeya, NDDC Director, Community and Rural Development, Port Harcourt; Engr. Onuoha Obeka, NDDC Director, Environmental Protection and Control, Port Harcourt; Barr. Salami Olaniyi Okogie, Director, Ondo State Office; Hon. Fayowole Aworetan, SA to the EDP, amongst others.
The flag off ceremony which was held yesterday Wednesday 26th April, 2023 at Officer’s Mess, Naval Base, Igbokoda, Ilaje LG, had in attendance His Imperial Majesty Oba Oluwasegun Akinyomi, the Amapetu of Mahin Land, HRH Oba Kolawole Ikuesan, the Olubo of Obenla Kingdom, HRH Oba Oluwafemi Ogbaro, the Odoka of Ogbaro Dynasty; representative of the Ondo State Government, Mr. Olufemi Obideyi, Secretary, Ondo State Emergency Management Agency; Arch Bishop Erenbo Eretan, representative of Ogeloyinbo of Aiyetoro; Hon. Dickson Obele, Vice Chairman, Ilaje Local Government among others.
The EDP and his team were received by the Ondo State NDDC top management Staff and other socio-cultural groups – Niger Delta Youth Leaders’ Council led by Comrade Seyi Ojowuro, Multi Crocodile Squad led by Chief Idowu Asonja
Niger Delta Youth Movement led by Comrade Akin Omojuwa.
The programme which started at about 12noon with opening paryer by Engr. Benson Karaki, Assistant Director, UIDW while Dr. Omosayo David, Principal Manager, Corporate Affairs directed the programme.
Opening remark was given by Barr. Salami Olaniyi Okogie, NDDC Director, Ondo State Office. While speaking, Barr. Salami appreciated the top Board Members and management of the NDDC, traditional rulers and other invited guests. He said that the visitation of the EDP and his team was to solidarise with Aiyetoro people and also to meet the immediate needs of the victims.
The Executive Director Project, NDDC, Mr. Charles Ogunmola while speaking, stated that the present NDDC Board is ready to bring best technology to Ilaje and proffer lasting solution to Aiyetoro ocean surge.
“In this administration of ours, we will put an end to sea incursion in Ilaje and Aiyetoro in particular”. Ogunmola said.
“Today is my birthday and in a solidarity to Aiyetoro people, I have decided to celebrate my birthday here in Ilaje. My family tried all they could to prevent me from traveling but I said no, I must get to Aiyetoro and see the situation of things”.
“I have vowed to start development from Ondo South (Ilaje in particular) to Ondo North”.
He specially thanked all the traditional rulers present and others invited guests.
While reacting, Apostle J.I. Ajijo who spoke on behalf of Aiyetoro community, said that there was no proper study or research on how best NDDC and Federal Government can handle Aiyetoro ocean surge and urged the NDDC to use modern technology to proffer permanent solution to the sea incursion.
Others who spoke in line with Apostle Ajijo were the representative of the Ondo State Government, Mr. Olufemi Obideyi, Secretary, Ondo State Emergency Management Agency and HRH Oba Femi Ogbaro. Obideyi while speaking, thanked the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN CON for his transformation agenda in Ondo State and also acknowledged the efforts of the State government in donating relief materials for Aiyetoro people overtimes and appealed to NDDC and Federal Government to act more on permanent solution to the ocean surge rather than sharing palliatives at all times, stressing that palliatives have been shared times without numbers including the state government, “this time around, we need permanent solution more than the relief materials”. Obideyi said.
In the same manner, HRH Oba Femi Ogbaro noted that Aiyetoro community was not the only community affected by ocean surge in Ilaje. He noted that, Awoye, Mese, Gbagira and other communities were also affected. He urged the NDDC to always include fishing materials/equipment in their palliatives in order to meet the needs of the people and consequently ameliorate the suffering of the people, stressing that the people need fishing materials such as ‘fishing nets’ and so on, more than the relief materials”.
In his words, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Oluwasegun Akinyomi, the Amapetu of Mahin Land, said the visitation of the EDP to Ilaje was unique in nature to have decided to celebrate his birthday in Ilaje land in solidarity to Aiyetoro people.
He appealed to the NDDC to always ensure that NDDC projects are awarded to competent contractors for proper and prompt execution.
Closing remark was given by Mr. Gordon Okeya, NDDC Director, Community and Rural Development, Port Harcourt after which the gathering celebrated the birthday of the EDP with solemn chorus and offered special prayed for him.
Shortly after the prayer, the EDP moved to flag off the distribution of the Palliatives and relief materials. While speaking, he said, “this is the first package, more are still coming”.
After the flag off, the team moved to Aiyetoro community to see the devastation effect of the sea incursion in Aiyetoro community.
At Aiyetoro, the community leaders, women and youths welcomed the EDP and his team. The EDP, Mr. Charles Ogunmola while speaking assured the people of Aiyetoro community a permanent solution to the oceans surge. “I am not in Aiyetoro as an observer, I am here to see what NDDC can do as a matter of urgency to prevent the sea incursion”. Ogunmola said.
Speaking on behalf of Aiyetoro community, Prophet Oluwanbe Ojagbohunmi thanked the Federal Government and NDDC for their quick intervention and response to the victims, appealing to the FG and NDDC to safe Aiyetoro land.
According to him, “we do not stay in Aiyetoro to fish but to fulfill the vision and mission of our founding fathers who gave us a place under the sun, so, we have no place to go”.
Aiyetoro Community then celebrated the birthday of Mr. Ogunmola in grand style and presented him a birthday gifts (fishes) after which a brief interview was conducted by the Pressmen for the EDP and some community dwellers.
