Gbenga Oloniniran The Lagos State Safety Commission, in conjunction with Global Sports Exclusive Promotions, on Thursday, held a road walk to stem the alarming rate of drowning incidents in swimming pools, beach houses, and waterways in the state. In April, the Lagos State Police Command said a total number of seven persons drowned in different parts of the state in a particular week. The deaths were recorded at hotel swimming pools, beaches, and at the lagoon, according to the state police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin.
The safety commission spokesperson, Adewunmi Okoh, in a statement event, noted that the event which commemorated the World Drowning Prevention Day, saw several participants walking from Ikeja Under Bridge to JJT Park in Alausa. The Director-General of the commission, Lanre Mojola, emphasised the significance of the joint initiative and highlighted the need for immediate actions to educate residents of the state on drowning prevention and as well equip residents with essential life-saving skills “We are proud to collaborate with Global Sports Exclusive Promotions to raise awareness about the prevention of drowning. This event is a crucial step towards creating a safer society, and we are committed to continuing our efforts in this regard,” Mojola said.
He said in 2021, the Lagos State Safety Commission Law and regulations on swimming pools were passed by the State House of Assembly and had since commenced implementations of the regulations. Mojola said in tandem with the commission’s mandate to promote the safety and well-being of citizens within the different communities, the Commission highlighted the need for approval to organise the “Community Safety Lifeguard Initiative” focused on drowning prevention through measures to reduce drowning deaths in Lagos. This, he said included lifeguard training and certification; training children on water safety skills and swimming; bystanders on safe rescue and resuscitation techniques and disseminating water safety information using different media.
The DG said, “We must ensure that students, teachers, and community members are well-informed and trained on water safety. To this end, the initiative will be in three phases: public sensitisation on drowning prevention in the media, training school children on water safety across the six educational districts in Lagos and lifeguards/bystander training and certification.” In his remarks, the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Dr.
Olawale Age-Sulaimon, said drowning among Lagosians, irrespective of age, creed and race, had been rampant, probably due to the prevalence of water in Lagos. He said, “Through this collaborative effort, the Lagos State Safety Commission and Global Sports Exclusive Promotions demonstrated their commitment to creating a safer and healthier society. The success of this event paves the way for future initiatives aimed at promoting safety and well-being in Lagos State,” Age-Sulaimon said.
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