The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to declare the oil-producing coastal communities in Ondo State as disaster zones requiring urgent national intervention.
The resolution follows a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Donald Ojogo (APC, Ondo) on Wednesday, citing the devastating impacts of sea incursions and ocean surges that have plagued the region for over two decades.
Ojogo, while leading the debate, emphasised that the four affected coastal oil-producing communities (Ayetoro, Awoye, Abereke and Molutehin) in Ondo State are critical revenue sources for the nation. However, persistent sea incursions have led to large-scale displacement, the destruction of homes, and the disruption of oil exploration activities—posing serious threats to peace and security in the area.
“These surges have submerged more than half of each of these communities, and in the case of Awoye, the entire community has been split into two by the ravaging incursion,” Ojogo stated.
He further disclosed that in the past three weeks alone, intensified sea incursions have forced a mass exodus of residents, with avoidable deaths recorded due to the dire conditions faced by displaced persons.
The Ondo lawmaker lamented that successive state administrations have struggled to address the worsening crisis, leaving the communities at risk of total extinction.
“This environmental disaster is now a regular feature on national and international media, showcasing the severe ecological impact on these oil-rich communities,” he noted.
Ojogo urged the Federal Government to act swiftly, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, to protect these vital oil-producing regions and safeguard national economic interests.
The House resolution calls for immediate emergency measures to mitigate the crisis and prevent further devastation in these crucial oil-producing areas.
