Dark clouds hung heavily over the sky on a Wednesday morning, signaling an impending downpour as this correspondent embarked on a journey through the creeks and waterways of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
For more than two hours, a boat ferried us across winding channels and expansive waterways toward a cluster of oil-producing riverine communities now battling an existential threat: relentless incursions from the Atlantic Ocean that have swallowed vast portions of ancestral lands, displaced thousands of residents, destroyed livelihoods, and left vulnerable populations seeking refuge in churches.
Across more than 10 affected communities, children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and elderly residents were found taking refuge inside churches that have become makeshift shelters after sea water engulfed their homes.
The affected communities include Awoye, Mese, Odofado, Opakaba, Ikuyimino, Nati, Anehin, Ogbeyangban, Akinsolu, Jinrinwo, Gbagira, Molutehin, and several adjoining settlements.
Residents who spoke with this reporter blamed years of environmental degradation, coastal erosion, and dredging activities they alleged were linked to Chevron’s oil operations for worsening the crisis. According to them, the destruction of natural barriers that once shielded their communities from the Atlantic Ocean has left entire settlements exposed to devastating sea incursions.
Along the route, over 10 security checkpoints manned by different security agencies underscored the strategic importance of the oil-producing region.
Today, many of those communities stand on the brink of extinction.
Historical Grievances Against Chevron
The anger and frustration directed at Chevron are rooted in decades-old grievances.
In 1998, members of the Ilaje ethnic group staged a protest at a Chevron offshore oil platform, accusing the company of causing environmental and economic devastation through its oil-producing activities.
The protesters arrived in small boats and carried out what witnesses described as a peaceful occupation of the platform. They were unarmed and no oil workers were harmed during the action.
Armed Nigerian Navy personnel remained stationed at the facility throughout the protest.
According to reports, an internal Chevron memo sent the day after the occupation began acknowledged that the protesters “have thus far been peaceful.”
A fax reportedly sent to the United States Embassy the following day similarly stated that the “villagers were unarmed and the situation has remained calm since their arrival.”
However, residents and activists allege that the situation changed dramatically after Chevron reportedly invited Nigerian security operatives to intervene.
According to accounts documented at the time, Chevron allegedly called in the Nigerian Mobile Police, widely known then as the “Kill-and-Go” squad.
The following morning, soldiers and police officers reportedly transported in Chevron helicopters arrived at the platform and allegedly opened fire on the protesters.
Autopsy reports indicated that two protesters were killed. One was reportedly shot four times in the back, while another was shot three times in the side.
Several others were arrested, while some allegedly suffered torture.
Chevron later reportedly acknowledged that the military personnel involved were “closely supervised by” company security personnel.
For many residents in Ilaje today, that incident remains emblematic of what they describe as decades of neglect and environmental injustice in communities that host major oil installations.
Journey Through Communities on the Brink of Extinction
Travelling through Ilaje’s waterways reveals a stark contrast between the enormous oil wealth extracted from the area and the harsh realities faced by residents.
The journey began from Igbokoda to Ugbo, a major commercial hub where residents and visitors board boats to access remote riverine settlements.
As the boat moved through the waterways, the water appeared brown and salty. Children paddled canoes while fishing. Boats loaded with goods and passengers crisscrossed the creeks.
But beneath the routine activities lay evidence of an unfolding humanitarian and environmental disaster.
Passing through Akinsolu, Gbagira, Odofado and Mese communities, signs of destruction were impossible to miss.
Thousands of homes have either been destroyed or abandoned.
Entire families have been forced to relocate.
Livelihoods built around fishing and trading have been disrupted.
Only about 300 metres from several communities, the Atlantic Ocean could be seen aggressively advancing toward residential areas.
Residents said more than 70 per cent of Odofado community has already been consumed by the sea.
Gbagira, Meseh, they said, has virtually disappeared beneath advancing waters.
Several communities have already gone extinct, while displaced residents continue moving from one threatened settlement to another in search of safety.
The displaced have sought refuge in neighbouring communities that now face the same threat.
Pregnant Women Forced to Sleep in Churches
In Molutehin community, the humanitarian crisis is especially visible.
One of the most disturbing scenes was found in Molutehin community, where pregnant women and families displaced by sea incursions have turned churches into temporary shelters.
Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children now sleep inside churches after losing their homes to ocean incursions.
One of the displaced residents, identified simply as Ife, spoke emotionally about the hardship confronting residents.
“Malokun has taken over our community. We have nowhere to sleep except the church. Both in the morning and at night, we stay inside the church. If we want to cook, we do it in the church.
“We are calling on the Federal Government and the Ondo State Government to help us recover what we have lost.
“Even our parents are crying because of how Malokun has taken over our community. We do not have a health centre. As a pregnant woman, there are no drugs for us and nowhere to receive antenatal care.
“We do not have clean water to drink, cook, or wash with. The only water available is salty and dirty.
“Whenever it rains, we rush back into the church for shelter. Look at the water behind me, it is very dirty. How can we survive, especially as pregnant women, when that is the same water we use every day?
“Whenever children drink the water, they often become sick. I am tired of this situation and I am pleading with the government to help us.”
She said the crisis has devastated residents socially, economically and emotionally, leaving families uncertain about their future as the ocean steadily consumes their ancestral communities.
“Chevron’s Dredged Canal Opened Our Communities to Destruction” – Prince Philemon Ebiesuwa
A foremost leader from Awoye community, Prince Philemon Ebiesuwa, said the environmental disaster facing coastal Ilaje communities has reached alarming levels.
Standing beside a widening canal linked directly to the Atlantic Ocean, he warned that several settlements may soon disappear entirely if urgent intervention is not provided.
Standing beside a widening canal that residents say was dredged during oil exploration activities, he warned that entire communities could soon disappear.
“We are in Njeriwo, in Ilaje Local Government Area. This canal you can see here is the Njeriwo Canal, which leads directly into the Atlantic Ocean,” he said.
“The situation poses an imminent danger to this community. If urgent action is not taken, Njeriwo could be wiped off the map. That is why we are here, to sensitize the public and appeal to the government.
“We call on the local government, state government, federal government, intervention agencies, OSOPADEC, NDDC, and the Ogo Land Host Community Development Trust to come to the aid of these communities.
“Our duty is to draw attention to this crisis and urge the authorities to act. The problem is not limited to Njeriwo. Almost all the coastal communities, from Ayetoro to Bereke and beyond, are affected. However, our immediate concern is Ogo Land and its surrounding communities.”
While traveling by boat to different communities, Ebiesuwa said the fate of pregnant women, children, the elderly, and other vulnerable residents is particularly concerning.
While heading toward Akinsolu, Odofado, Gbagira, and Meseh by boat, he explained that Akinsolu, Odofado, Gbagira, and Meseh have already become extinct, having been completely washed away by the Atlantic Ocean.
The communities have relocated to another location, but even there, residents remain under threat from coastal erosion.
He said, “This is not a disaster we are waiting to happen, it is already happening. The destruction is horrifying. People have been displaced, their homes destroyed, and their livelihoods devastated.
“Many residents can no longer go fishing because they no longer have secure homes to return to. This problem has existed for many years, but it has become much more severe in recent months. The rate of erosion has accelerated dramatically, and our fear is that entire communities may soon disappear.”
Ebiesuwa lamented the lack of healthcare facilities and the dangers faced by vulnerable residents has worsened the suffering.
“The fate of pregnant women, children, the elderly and other vulnerable residents is particularly concerning. There are no adequate healthcare facilities in this area. The nearest government hospital is in Igbokoda, and many residents rely on private clinics, some of which are poorly equipped.
“People have to travel long distances by water to reach Igbokoda, the local government headquarters, to access healthcare services.”
He urged authorities to fast-track interventions already being discussed.
“We understand that efforts are being made to establish a Mother and Child Hospital in Ode-Ugbo through the Ilaje Community Development Trust. However, that project alone will not be enough, and people need immediate intervention before it is completed.”
“Nearly 70 Per Cent of Odofado Has Been Lost”
As we moved deeper into the communities, Prince Ebiesuwa pointed to areas where homes, churches and public spaces once stood.
“As I said earlier, this is a riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area. We are surrounded by water, yet we have no potable water to drink. The water here is salty because it comes directly from the ocean.
“If you look around, you will see houses being destroyed and livelihoods being affected. We are passing through Akinsolu, Gbagira and Odofado. Meseh lies ahead. About 300 metres from here, the Atlantic Ocean is advancing aggressively toward these communities.”
He added: “We are now in Odofado. Nearly 70 percent of this community has already been lost to the ocean. Gbagira is virtually gone.
“What you see here is only a short distance from the Atlantic Ocean. Behind us are houses under threat. There is even a church that was once several metres away from the shoreline, but the ocean has now encroached dangerously close to it.
“If the erosion continues at this pace, communities such as Odofado and Gbagira may completely disappear.”
“Where you see those trees today,” he said, pointing at them, “there were once homes and buildings. Some of the remains belong to a church that has already been destroyed by the advancing ocean.”
“To the left lies the former site of Mese community. It no longer exists because of the encroachment of the sea.”
Allegations Against Chevron
Prince Ebiesuwa linked the worsening erosion to decades of oil exploration by Chevron, which fundamentally altered the area’s ecosystem.
Pointing toward the ocean, where oil facilities could be seen in the distance, he said:
“When you look out toward the Atlantic Ocean, you can see oil wells, rigs and other petroleum facilities in the distance. These are oil-producing communities, yet residents say they have not benefited adequately from the resources extracted from their land.”
He alleged that a Chevron wellhead once existed in the area now overtaken by water.
“We believe this environmental disaster is linked to decades of oil exploration activities. Seismic operations were conducted here in the past as part of oil exploration.
“What is now part of the Atlantic Ocean was once a creek that connected communities such as Meseh, Awoye, Ikuyimino and Molutehin.
“This body of water was once the site of a Chevron wellhead. Meanwhile the area was dredged and connected to the Atlantic Ocean.
“Saltwater subsequently entered the freshwater ecosystem, destroying economic trees such as mahogany and abura.
“The surviving trees are mainly saltwater-resistant species.
“Residents say that after oil exploration activities ended and the well was abandoned, the canal continued to widen over time, leading to extensive erosion and the destruction of nearby communities.”
He further explained that gas flaring and other petroleum activities have worsened environmental degradation in the region.
“This canal where we are standing was dredged by Chevron. Residents say that after the well was abandoned, the company no longer maintained the site, resulting erosion has contributed significantly to the destruction of nearby communities.
“This canal was dredged by Chevron and linked to the Atlantic Ocean. Community members believe it is one of the primary causes of the erosion affecting the area today. They say no significant efforts have been made to permanently address the problem.”
Baale of Molutehin: “We Have Become Refugees in Our Own Community”
At Molutehin, the Baale, Chief Amapopomi Nomiye, described how repeated sea incursions have forced multiple relocations.
“We are an oil-hosting community, and the oil from our land is what generates revenue for Ondo State. However, Malokun water has taken over our land.
“This is the fifth location to which we have relocated after some of our ancestral lands were swallowed by sea incursions caused by Chevron’s activities.
“We are begging the Ondo State Government, the Federal Government, and the international community to come to our aid. Chevron should also take drastic action to address this situation.
“Our people have become refugees in their own community.”
He appealed directly to political leaders.
“We are appealing to Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, who is from Ilaje, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to help us.”
Describing residents’ suffering, he added: “Our old men and women have nowhere to sleep. They are sleeping inside the church. We cannot eat or drink properly, and we have nowhere to stay. Malokun water has driven our people away, and their homes have been destroyed.”
OSOPADEC Water Project Yet to Materialise
In April 2025, the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) assured residents that access to clean and sustainable water would soon become a reality.
During an inspection tour of projects including the ₦1.7 billion 1,000-metre concrete walkway in Obe-Nla and the Molutehin Mini Water Scheme, OSOPADEC Chairman Prince Biyi Poroye declared: “Access to clean water is not a luxury; it is a right. With Governor Aiyedatiwa’s proactive leadership, we will fast-track completion so our people can drink water from their own land.”
Incursion
The water scheme, then reportedly 85 per cent completed, was designed to produce 20,000 gallons of potable water daily through reverse osmosis technology.
However, residents told investigators that the project remains unfinished and they still depend largely on unsafe water sources.
During a visit to Obe-Nla, Governor Aiyedatiwa’s hometown, a newly constructed concrete walkway was observed with security personnel stationed nearby.
Residents from Molutehin, Awoye, Mese, Odofado, Opuekeba, Ikuyimino, Nati, Anehin, Ogbeyangban, Akinsolu, Jinrinwo and Gbagira said they had yet to receive similar infrastructure.
Pointing at an ageing wooden bridge, Prince Ebiesuwa said: “If you look at this wooden footbridge, this is the only walkway in Molutehin community. This walkway stretches almost two kilometres, and you can see that it is dilapidated.
“It was built by the RDC, the Ilaje Regional Development Council, which has now been transformed into the Ugboland Host Communities Development Trust.
“We are not here to indict any government, but where government has not done enough, we must say so.
“This community deserves priority whenever concrete walkways are being awarded in Ilaje.”
Host Community of Opuekeba Flow Station Laments Neglect
Another community leader, Prince Lawrence Ikuemenhinlo of Molutehin Imolima Town, said residents of the host community for the Opuekeba Flow Station feel abandoned despite their contributions to the oil industry.
“This is Molutehin community, the host of the Opuekeba Flow Station. We are suffering beyond human imagination.
“Sea incursion is a serious threat here. As you can see, many people are taking shelter inside the church because their homes have been destroyed and they have no means of livelihood.
“Many people have fallen from these dilapidated walkways. Several are currently receiving medical treatment.”
He warned that the community itself could disappear.
“The sea is now about 30 metres from where we are standing. If urgent action is not taken, all these places will be washed away.
“That was how Mese, Gbagira, and Akinsolu were lost. What started as a canal dredged by Chevron eventually widened and became uncontrollable.
“The Ewan oil field you see here today was once where my great-grandfather’s house stood.
“If nothing is done urgently, this community may cease to exist within a year.”
Refugees in Awoye
In Awoye community, our reporter encountered dozens of displaced residents crowded inside a church building.
Among them were nursing mothers, children and elderly persons who said they had nowhere else to go.
One resident, Omomoro, lamented: “We are tired of everything. We have nowhere to sleep. Sea incursion has disrupted our lives economically and socially.
“The water has taken away all our belongings. We have nowhere to stay. Whenever the flooding occurs, we have nowhere to sleep. We are begging the government to come to our rescue.
“We sleep in churches. We are tired. Our children are suffering and dying. We are fed up with this hardship.”
Another woman said: “There is no healthcare centre in our community. We are calling on the government not to allow the Malokun water to wipe us out. We have nowhere else to go.”
A nursing mother carrying newborn twins added: “We have nowhere to sleep. The Malokun water destroyed our home. My babies do not have clean water to drink or bathe with.”
“We Have Relocated Three Times” – Meseh Chief
A traditional chief from Meseh community, Chief Engr. Isreal Ilumobayo, the Baale of Meseh, described repeated displacement caused by advancing ocean waters.
“This is the third place we have moved to. The first and second settlements have already been swallowed by the sea. If we lose this place, we have nowhere else to go.
“Where we previously lived, more than five housing clusters have been completely washed away.
“The affected people have become refugees. Their livelihoods have been destroyed. We have nothing left because of the activities associated with oil exploration in our area.
“What is happening to us is linked to the operations of Chevron, Mobil, and other oil companies. They know their activities affect us, yet we are left to bear the consequences.
“Today, I have nowhere else to go. We are appealing to the Federal Government, the Ondo State Government, NDDC, OSOPADEC, and the international community to rescue us.”
He, however, appealed to political leaders.
“Our kingdom contributes significantly to the economy of Ondo State. During elections, ballot boxes are brought here and we participate in the democratic process like every other community.
“We are begging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, who is also from Ilaje, to come to our aid before these communities disappear completely.”
Communities Fear Extinction
From Awoye to Molutehin, from Odofado to the now-vanished Mese settlement, residents painted a consistent picture of environmental devastation, displacement and neglect.
Across the affected communities, churches have become refugee camps. Pregnant women sleep on church floors. Children drink salty water. Fishermen watch their homes disappear into the sea while oil installations continue to operate offshore.
Community leaders insist that unless urgent shoreline protection measures, environmental remediation, healthcare interventions, potable water projects and resettlement support are implemented, several more Ilaje communities could soon be wiped off the map.
For the people of Ilaje, the crisis is no longer a future threat.
It is a disaster already unfolding before their eyes.
OSOPADEC Declined Response
When the journalist contacted the spokesperson for OSOPADEC, the Director of Media and Corporate Affairs, Mr Godson Ewata, said he was not authorised to speak and would need approval from his superiors, the Deputy Chairman and the Permanent Secretary of the commission.
He said, “For the information you require, I won’t be able to give you details regarding those requests because, as you know, I am a civil servant. For me to be able to speak on any of these issues, I have to get approval from my bosses, that is, the Deputy Chairman and the Permanent Secretary of the commission.
“So, the commission is a bureaucratic institution. It is not the kind of commission where just anybody or any information officer can speak to the press without first getting approval from a higher authority. I will therefore require that perhaps by this time tomorrow, you can call back after I must have contacted my bosses and obtained approval to speak on these issues.”
When asked, “Are you not Mr Godson Ewata, the spokesperson?” he replied: “Yes, I’m the spokesperson and the Public Relations Officer of the commission.
“The commission is a bureaucratic setting; it is a civil service commission and it operates with laws, regulations and rules. So, while you may be able to get information from other commissions or offices, ours is different. That is why I said that, so as not to be penalised for whatever I say, I must first seek the approval of my bosses, the chairman and other relevant authorities. It is only after such approval is given for me to speak with you that I can say anything about the information you require.”
A day later, when the journalist called him again, he refused to pick up the calls and did not respond to the message sent to him.
Chevron Nigeria Representatives Keep Mute
Efforts to obtain a response from Chevron were unsuccessful, as Laura Hurst, External Affairs Advisor for Africa and Latin America, Corporate Affairs, Chevron International Exploration and Production Company, acknowledged the journalist’s message but said her colleagues were in a better position to respond. However, none of them responded.
In her message, she said: “Thank you for your message. I’m connecting you to my colleagues in Lagos, who may be able to help.
“Apologies, I copied my colleague in the message, so I’m not sure why it’s not showing up. It’s Victor Anyaegbudike: [email protected].”
By Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed
This report was done with support from the Civic Media Lab (CML).
(SaharaReporters)