![A building already flooded by the ocean](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X27IWQAMKVDNJPCNBJQ6PLVSRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a4f291ec4c3ce758dd8e59d19cd594f55180b77b33cd9f8977d5e162d197b822&width=400&height=225)
![Maria Ajijo lost her flourishing provision store to the sea. Today she barely makes enough to take care of herself. All photos: Abiodun Jamiu for the National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4U7TANER2VH3FC4MBQYD2V6GKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3cb4262e26eec94ae37e152c6c7cca6a3dd2959e07a270a11d829fdb966e8855&width=400&height=225)
![The popular Broad Street that ran through the community now lies under the sea](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q2JQXDLAXZHIHBN6ZU7I5GHD5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=4a862f9ac631bad39258b936298c7c47b9b0f12de29c2412ff4fe46c4de25487&width=400&height=225)
![The community's high school has also fallen to the ravaging sea, forcing pupils to relocate](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/46A52OJTXRHJDN5PQC5PEUIK6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=153f16e5fef632a37b66961f25f7a1b0aa3e408b6b2290e538d5fa6f3da57c3b&width=400&height=225)
![The community's technical college is now a shadow of its former self](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6YCR6SOSCVEM7ECOKYPZROIESU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e6131bd2290816c8cc157250bf493436cf40cec32746020dbb2a15c632a5e57e&width=400&height=225)
![As the sea surges, businesses also fall, affecting the economy of these coastal communities](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R7QZL5RYVBGFFGIPAZQECYAQ5E.jpg?smart=true&auth=813af3568fc16bdcbf83246f6db36b2393307044e597cde6c018d64b0f711f03&width=400&height=225)
![A sign welcoming visitors to the sinking 'happy' city](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YKII4BAYHBG45NJUJ65X5WTJWM.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb6d41a22aae008557a4e080c65ad98f949cdee53ffa9901450386a3fd4f99e0&width=400&height=225)
![Alebiosu Adeleye’s business was swept under the sea](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ESC4YSCK5JCSBKAM6Q27IHTDME.jpg?smart=true&auth=f4332b52da3a1f92d904ed006ed61fb2ae83260acf3c1662a6473d0000ce4564&width=400&height=225)
![A building destroyed by the ocean](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q3RSJSP5FRGJHD74GHYWPUQ5BU.jpg?smart=true&auth=679e7e52d438801c86d15c8b8593c22bffa111ca59278d247c6e2a8c19b69d65&width=400&height=225)
![Mr Adeleye’s new makeshift shop, where he’s currently rebuilding his life, one step at a time](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VMZ5IU5X6NHK3PBXBFAI7VFHJ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=38415152a8f199f7f28ac59f549de67231a5d41fbcf89bc4cfeb124f7c0d40f8&width=400&height=225)
![A building already flooded by the ocean](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X27IWQAMKVDNJPCNBJQ6PLVSRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a4f291ec4c3ce758dd8e59d19cd594f55180b77b33cd9f8977d5e162d197b822&width=400&height=225)
![Maria Ajijo lost her flourishing provision store to the sea. Today she barely makes enough to take care of herself. All photos: Abiodun Jamiu for the National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4U7TANER2VH3FC4MBQYD2V6GKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3cb4262e26eec94ae37e152c6c7cca6a3dd2959e07a270a11d829fdb966e8855&width=400&height=225)
![The popular Broad Street that ran through the community now lies under the sea](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q2JQXDLAXZHIHBN6ZU7I5GHD5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=4a862f9ac631bad39258b936298c7c47b9b0f12de29c2412ff4fe46c4de25487&width=400&height=225)
![The community's high school has also fallen to the ravaging sea, forcing pupils to relocate](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/46A52OJTXRHJDN5PQC5PEUIK6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=153f16e5fef632a37b66961f25f7a1b0aa3e408b6b2290e538d5fa6f3da57c3b&width=400&height=225)
![The community's technical college is now a shadow of its former self](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6YCR6SOSCVEM7ECOKYPZROIESU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e6131bd2290816c8cc157250bf493436cf40cec32746020dbb2a15c632a5e57e&width=400&height=225)
![As the sea surges, businesses also fall, affecting the economy of these coastal communities](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R7QZL5RYVBGFFGIPAZQECYAQ5E.jpg?smart=true&auth=813af3568fc16bdcbf83246f6db36b2393307044e597cde6c018d64b0f711f03&width=400&height=225)
![A sign welcoming visitors to the sinking 'happy' city](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YKII4BAYHBG45NJUJ65X5WTJWM.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb6d41a22aae008557a4e080c65ad98f949cdee53ffa9901450386a3fd4f99e0&width=400&height=225)
![Alebiosu Adeleye’s business was swept under the sea](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ESC4YSCK5JCSBKAM6Q27IHTDME.jpg?smart=true&auth=f4332b52da3a1f92d904ed006ed61fb2ae83260acf3c1662a6473d0000ce4564&width=400&height=225)
![A building destroyed by the ocean](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q3RSJSP5FRGJHD74GHYWPUQ5BU.jpg?smart=true&auth=679e7e52d438801c86d15c8b8593c22bffa111ca59278d247c6e2a8c19b69d65&width=400&height=225)
![Mr Adeleye’s new makeshift shop, where he’s currently rebuilding his life, one step at a time](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VMZ5IU5X6NHK3PBXBFAI7VFHJ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=38415152a8f199f7f28ac59f549de67231a5d41fbcf89bc4cfeb124f7c0d40f8&width=400&height=225)
![A building already flooded by the ocean](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X27IWQAMKVDNJPCNBJQ6PLVSRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a4f291ec4c3ce758dd8e59d19cd594f55180b77b33cd9f8977d5e162d197b822&width=400&height=225)
The sea that keeps on taking: Nigeria’s ‘happy city’ faces extinction as ocean encroaches
Business owners and citizens of Ayetoro battle on as livelihoods repeatedly washed away
Abiodun Jamiu
Ayetoro
June 21, 2023
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June 21, 2023