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Nigeria's 'Happy City' Battles Climate Crisis, Faces Bleak Future

The coastal town of Ayetoro in Nigeria, once a vibrant community known as the "Happy City," is being devastated by rising sea levels and storms, reports Africa Arguments.

Over the last 20 years, however, rising sea levels and more intense storm surges have battered Ayetoro. Recurrent floods have damaged hundreds of buildings - including homes, schools, and even cemeteries - and swept away over 50% of the town, which is now below sea level. The population, some of whom lived there for countless generations, has depleted from around 30,000 people in 2006 to just 5,000 today.

The Climate Change Act passed in 2021 has not effectively addressed the crisis. Climate justice activists and experts call for realistic and sustainable solutions, including coastal embankments and relocation assistance. However, lack of funding remains a major obstacle.

As the community awaits international funding and national action, the once-reputed coastal town is disappearing in rising ocean surges.

InFocus

AbiodunJamiu/AfricanArguments

Some remaining buildings, now at risk, in Ayetoro.

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