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Aboderin Inioluwa

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ECOLOGICAL DEVASTATION OF ILAJE LAND AND MATTERS ARISING

                    Ilaje land, located in the coastal region of Ondo State, Nigeria is a vibrant yet vulnerable ecosystem inhabited by the Ilaje Local people, a Yoruba subgroup renowned for their fishing and aqatic skills. Spanning approximately 1,318km along the Atlantic shoreline, this region is rich in biodiversity, petroleum, and miniral resources like glass sand, bitumen and clay. However decades of ecological devestation, primarily driven by oil exploration, sea incrsion and climate change, has Left Ilaje land in a state of environmental and socio-economic crisis. This essay examines the causes and conceqences of this devastations, as well as urgent matter arising from it, emphasizing the need for sustainable interventions.                                                            The primary driver of ecological devestation in Ilaje land is oil exploration and its associated spills. Since the discovery of crude oil in the Niger Delta, Ilaje communities have borne the brunt of environmental degradation caused by oil multinationals like Chevron, shell, and the Nigeria National Petroleum corporation (NNPC). A notable incident was the 1998 oil spill in Ilaje local Government Area, which killed over 3,260 animals, destroyed fish farms and contaminated farm land and water sources. By 2023 the region continued to suffer from recurrent spills, with over 4,919 recorded in Nigeria between 2015 and 2021, many affecting Ilaje delicate mangrove ecosystems. These spills polute water bodies, render farmlands infertile, and decimate aqatic life threatening the livehoods of fishing-dependent communities. The resulting loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services has pushed many residents into abject poverty, with limited access to clean water, healthcare, and education.                                                                        Compounding the oil related damage is the escalating sea incrsion from the Atlantic ocean, exarcerbated by climate change. Community like Ayetoro, known as Happy City, has lost significant portions of land homes and infrastructure to rising sea levels since the 1980s. The incursion has dispiased residents, submerged healthcare facilities, and created unsafe living conditions with wooden walkways replacing roads in some areas. Clamate change -induced  flooding and coastal erosion, coupled with oil extraction activities that weaken soil stability.                                                                          The socio-econmic and cultureal ramifications of this devastation are perfound. The Ilaje people, whose identity and economy are tied to fishing and farming, face existential threats as their natural resources dwindle. Unemployment, poverty, and rural-urban migration have surgde due to the loss of arable land and fishing grounds. Moreover, the neglet by government and oil companies has fueled disconnect, with community like Ayetoro alleging management of compensation funds, such as the 150 million nira oil spill relief in 2023.                                                                                Matters arising from this crisis demands urgent action. First, robust environmental remediation is needed. The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)  has pledged to deploy technology to curb sea incrsion, but implementation remains slow. Oil companies must be held accountable for spills through stricter regulations and transparent cleanup proceses, as recommended by groups like Environmental Rights Action/Friend of the Earth Nigeria. Second, climate adaption measures, such as building sea walls and promoting flood-crops, are critical. Finally, international support, as appealed by the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency, could provide technical and financial aid to prevent Ilaje land from slipping into extinction.                       In conclusion, the ecological devestation of Ilaje land, by oil spills, sea incursion and climate change, threatens both the environment and the survival of its people. Mtters arising incude the need for environmental restoration, climate resilience, corporate accountability, and community empowerment. Without converted efforts from government, oil multinationals, and global partners, Ilaje land risk becoming a case study in environmental injustice, underscoring the urgent need to balance resources exploitation with sustainable development                                          

                   

ECOLOGICAL DEVASTATION OF ILAJE LAND AND MATTERS ARISING

in  AFROSKY ESSAY COMPETITION 2025

by Aboderin Inioluwa

on 29-06-2025 | "Voting Start & End Date "Jun 28, 2025, 7:00 AMJul 7, 2025, 6:00 PM (Europe/Berlin)

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Media Type: Writing Contest
Category: Education & Arts

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