Ondo State commission seeks N94bn to save Aiyetoro community from ocean incursions
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission OSOPADEC announced that N94 billion is needed to protect the coastal community of Aiyetoro in Ilaje Local Government Area from ongoing Atlantic Ocean incursions. Olabiyi Poroye, Chairman of OSOPADEC, made this statement during the 2026 World Environment Day celebration in Aiyetoro. He urged the international community, development partners, and donor agencies to support efforts to address the environmental crisis affecting coastal communities. Poroye explained that studies indicate the scale of destruction from climate change, coastal erosion, and rising sea levels exceeds the commission's financial capacity. He highlighted that land reclamation for one community alone is estimated at N94 billion. Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, represented by Commissioner for Environment Tob Loko, noted that Aiyetoro was chosen for the celebration due to its severe ecological challenges and affirmed the government's commitment to finding solutions. Oba Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi, the traditional ruler of Aiyetoro, lamented that over 80 percent of the community's land, homes, and infrastructure have been lost to the sea in the past two decades, displacing families and destroying public facilities. He called for urgent shoreline protection and land reclamation to preserve the community's heritage.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
The Federal Road Safety Corps FRSC announced a 27 percent reduction in road traffic crashes and a 22 percent decrease in crash victims during the 2026 Eid-el-Kabir celebration compared to 2025. Osondu Ohaeri, the Corp Public Education Officer, stated that this outcome is one of the corps' most remarkable operational achievements. The number of crashes fell from 191 in 2025 to 142 in 2026, and the number of people involved in crashes decreased from 1,364 to 1,064. Additionally, there was a 25.4 percent decrease in injuries, with injured persons reducing from 576 to 430. Ohaeri attributed these gains to effective traffic management strategies, public enlightenment campaigns, enforcement activities, and enhanced emergency response mechanisms, including strategic deployment of personnel and assets, round-the-clock patrols, and intelligence-driven surveillance. Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed commended the personnel, Special Marshals, and collaborating agencies, noting that the results demonstrate the effectiveness of sustained enforcement and strategic planning. Mohammed also thanked motorists for adhering to traffic regulations and urged continued safety practices beyond festive periods, emphasizing road safety as a shared responsibility.
Pope Leo XIV shared a lighthearted moment with journalists aboard his flight to Spain, humorously revealing his personal football preference. When asked if he supported Real Madrid or Barcelona, the Pope, smiling, stated, "That's easy: the Pope is for all teams, but Robert Prevost is for Real Madrid!" This comment, reported by Vatican News, elicited laughter from the more than 80 journalists accompanying him on his Apostolic Journey to Madrid, the first stop of a week-long visit to Spain. During the same informal interaction, Pope Leo XIV also addressed global issues, reiterating his call for dialogue in conflict situations, expressing concern over international crises, and emphasizing the need for peace efforts, particularly in Ukraine and Lebanon. He reaffirmed the Church’s closeness to those affected by conflict and instability. Additionally, the Pope spoke on the issue of abuse within the Church, highlighting the importance of continued attention to victims and ongoing efforts toward accountability and healing. Pope Leo XIV's visit to Spain is scheduled to include meetings with ecclesial communities, civil authorities, and the faithful in Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands.
Must ReadA US man, identified as Dr. Peter Stafford, 39, who contracted Ebola while working as a surgeon for a Christian missionary group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been discharged from a German hospital after 17 days of medical care. Stafford, who works for the charity Serge, reportedly operated on an Ebola patient in eastern DRC before the outbreak was officially declared on May 15. He was admitted to Charite public hospital in Berlin on May 20 with pronounced Ebola symptoms. The hospital stated that his initially high viral load decreased substantially under antiviral treatment and supportive care, with no virus detected in his system since May 30. Stafford received experimental therapies during his treatment. His wife, also a doctor, and their children were in quarantine as high-risk contacts but were also discharged in good health. The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the current epidemic has no approved vaccines or treatments. The World Health Organization reported 471 people infected and 84 deaths in the DRC and neighboring Uganda as of Friday. The WHO has declared an international public health emergency over the outbreak, which the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned could become the largest Ebola epidemic on record.
Must ReadThe abductors of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, former Director of Defence Information, and his wife released a video on Saturday showing the couple in captivity. The couple was abducted along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. In the four-minute video, the general's wife conveyed the abductors’ demands, which included the release of three of their members identified as Sani, Aminu, and Nasiru, and the return of livestock allegedly seized from them. She stated that two of the detained individuals were arrested in Jikamshi and the third in Kano. She appealed to the Katsina State Government and leaders of five local government areas to facilitate compliance with these demands. Major General Abubakar also spoke, calling for efforts to ensure peace and noting the abductors' interest in dialogue. Notorious bandit leader Kachallah Muhammad, who operates in parts of Katsina State, has reportedly established communication with the general's family. As of the report's filing, neither the Katsina State Government nor security agencies had issued an official statement on the video.