The Lagos State Safety Commission, Nigeria Aquatics Federation and Leadway Assurance are in partnership to train more lifeguards in a bid to curtail the incidence of drowning in Lagos and Nigeria in general.
Also, the partnership is aiming to create awareness for members of the public, corporate organisations and private property owners to take safety precautions when dealing with water hazards.
The target according to the NAF president, Chinoye Daphey Aliyu is to train many lifeguards, who would in turn train others in their locality, so that people will know what to do, if there is any emergency situation in their swimming pool, beaches, floods and anywhere water is capable of causing drowning.
“The NAF has team 20 FINA trained lifeguards and We are aiming to train as much as 200 people and they in turn would train others.
“To achieve this we need the cooperation of every Nigerian private and public organisations.
“It would even be better if we can have the whole community trained,” said Chief Daphey Aliyu.
A representative of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mrs. George said the agency has been doing a whole lot of sensitization and planning more programs that will make the people be aware of potential water hazards.
Also speaking former NAF president, Babatunde Fatayi-Williams noted that lots of folks take safety for granted and as a result so many people have drowned needlessly.
“People build swimming pool no provisions for lifeguards, at the beaches there is little consideration for lifeguards.
“There is need for more sensitisation and also more funding of the agencies responsible for water safety.”
Mrs. Ronnie Uzoigwe of Leadway Assurance and Nigeria Aquatics Federation president Chief Chinoye Daphey Aliyu.