On October 4, 2024, the HEDA Resource Centre launched a vital outreach program aimed at enhancing flood resilience in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. This initiative, part of the African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ), targets high-risk flood zones identified by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), particularly focusing on coastal communities.
The outreach was led by HEDA’s Environmental Justice and Sustainability Development Program Officer, Akinmayowa Shobo and Mr. Tajudeen Olayemi, who facilitated comprehensive training sessions in the Igbokoda community. The training brought together key local stakeholders—including members of fishermen associations, market leaders, educators, youth leaders, and local government officials —to discuss critical issues such as flood risk assessment, early warning systems, and effective disaster management techniques.
During the session, community members voiced significant concerns regarding persistent blockages in drainage canals, which have intensified flooding in the area. Participants emphasized the need for improved waste management practices and better drainage infrastructure to protect vital public spaces, including markets, health centers, and schools.
Highlighting the connection between sanitation and flood resilience, Shobo remarked, “Flood mitigation goes hand in hand with proper sanitation and hygiene practices. Proper waste management reduces blockages in drainage systems, allowing floodwaters to disperse more effectively.”
The HEDA team extended their outreach efforts to Ayetoro, a coastal community suffering from severe flooding due to the Atlantic Ocean’s encroachment. Supported by local participants from Igbokoda, HEDA made a 45-minute drive followed by a 15-minute boat ride to Ayetoro, where they were welcomed by community leaders, including the Youth Spokesman, Comrade Thompson O. Akingboye, and Oba Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi (JP).
At the king’s palace, discussions highlighted the community’s alarming history with flooding, which has plagued Ayetoro since 2000. Once a thriving area established in 1947, the community now faces dire challenges as rising sea levels have submerged over 90% of its land, transforming streets into waterways navigable only by canoe.
Women leaders shared poignant accounts of how the ocean, once several miles away, now threatens their homes and livelihoods, with heartbreaking stories of lives lost and property destroyed. Despite previous government interventions aimed at shoreline protection, including significant investments in 2004 and 2009, community members expressed frustration over failed projects and the lack of meaningful progress.
In a unified call to action, the community is demanding urgent shoreline protection measures and support from offshore oil companies. They are also insisting on an investigation into past intervention failures, highlighting their neglect in the face of growing environmental threats.
HEDA’s outreach in Ilaje, Ondo State, is part of a larger commitment to promote climate resilience throughout Nigeria, working closely with frontline communities to raise awareness, provide technical support, and advocate for proactive measures against flooding.