Nigeria, April 10 -- As the scorching heatwave continues to grip many parts of the country, the arrival of April offers a glimmer of hope. Citizens eagerly anticipate the rains, expected to bring much-needed relief from the oppressive heat, yet another visible sign of climate change.

However, for residents of Ayetoro, a coastal community in Ilaje Local Government, Ondo State, April brings not relief but renewed anxiety. For them, it marks the beginning of a dreaded season, one defined by fear, uncertainty, and despair, as rising sea levels trigger the annual cycle of sea incursion that has plagued the community for years.

Ayetoro has long been in the spotlight as a symbol of climate vulnerability and government neglect. For decades, the...