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Rebecca Williams

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ECOLOGICAL DEVASTATION OF ILAJE LAND AND MATTERS ARISING

Preamble: the Ilajes are Yoruba subgroups known for their coastal settlement along the Niger Delta region of Ondo State, Nigeria. The population of Ilaje land is estimated at about 445,200 inhabitants. This is based on the local government area’s website as far back as 2006. The primary occupation of ilaje people is fishing due to the location in the riverine areas. Besides, they are involved in canoe-making, net-making, lumbering, farming, and trading.

MEANING OF ECOLOGICAL DEVASTATION

Ecological: this means the environment of living things or to the relationship between living things and their environment.

Devastation: this means severe or widespread destruction or damage in the environment.

This implies that Ecological devastation simply refers to the destruction underage in the environment.

The causes of severe ecological devastation of illegal land are listed as follows:


  • Oil exploration: the activities of the companies in the region led to environmental pollution, water contamination leading to destruction of the natural aquatic ecosystem and also loss of aquatic lives.


  • Climate change: this is caused by sea level rise and flooding in the region as a result of the low-lying nature of Ilaje land. This led to storm surge, frequent and severe coastal flooding, damaging infrastructures, and displacement of many communities.


  • Food insecurity: as a result of constant flooding and pollution, there was a loss of fish stocks in the region.


  • Saltwater intrusion: this is also a serious environmental problem caused by sea rise damaging the soil and the crops of farmers.


  • Socio-economic/social conflicts: water pollution, flooding, erosion, forced the residents to abandon their homes and livelihood, leading to displacement. One of the effects of this is competition among the dividers of the little available resources and unequal distribution of benefit from oil-producing companies.


RECOMMENDATION

I strongly suggest to the federal and state government, and also to relevant agencies, to enforce the existing laws and regulations guiding oil production, with a view to monitor, control, and checkmate the activities of the production. Also, the physical presence of the government and relevant agencies would go a long way in curtailing the excesses of the avoidable damages. Finally, what looks like exploitation would be drastically reduced if the people of Ilaje land are compensated for every natural or physical resources that leaves the land.

ECOLOGICAL DEVASTATION OF ILAJE LAND AND MATTERS ARISING

in  AFROSKY ESSAY COMPETITION 2025

by Rebecca Williams

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

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