The Lagos State Government has joined the global community to mark World Drowning Prevention Day towards raising awareness and reaffirming the present administration’s commitment to the protection of life, especially in and around water bodies.
According to a statement signed by Mr. Femi Kennedy Giwa, General Manager, Lagos State Command and Control Centre, drowning remains a silent but devastating public health issue, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives each year, many of whom are children and young people.
He added that in a State like Lagos, with its extensive coastline, inland waterways, and densely populated waterfront communities, the urgency to act is not just symbolic; it is strategic and lifesaving.
In his words, “At the Lagos State Command and Control Centre, our mission transcends emergency response; it encompasses proactive safety coordination, multi-agency collaboration, and the real-time deployment of lifesaving intelligence”.
“Today, we amplify the call for robust community education, strict adherence to water safety practices, proper use of life-saving devices, and increased surveillance across our waterways”.
Giwa emphasised that the Day serves not only as a commemoration but as a clarion call to governments, institutions, families, and individuals to take deliberate steps to prevent drowning. “Every life saved is a legacy preserved”, he affirmed. Together, we can build a safer, more responsive Lagos where no life is lost to preventable drowning”.