.Lagos warns facility operators on safety awareness 

About seven people, including an activist, Fawaz Alabi, were drowned in Lagos within a week.

The figure was the highest number of such incidents recorded in a week after the boat mishap that claimed four lives in the Ikorodu area of the state in March.

The Guardian gathered that the individuals drowned in hotel swimming pools, lagoon and beach.

On Saturday, April 12, 2024, the body of a Nigerian activist, Fawaz Alabi who went missing at Ibeshe beach in Lagos on April 10, 2024, was recovered.

According to eyewitness accounts, the activist was swimming when he suddenly appeared to struggle against a strong undercurrent. Despite immediate efforts by onlookers and emergency services to rescue him, Alabi was pronounced dead at the scene.

Alabi, 34, was a respected figure in the activist community, renowned for his dedication to social justice and his role in several high-profile campaigns against pollution and government corruption. His sudden demise has left both colleagues and admirers in profound shock.

According to spokesperson, Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, two persons died in a hotel in Mushin and one was recorded in a hotel on the island.

One person also drowned in a hotel in the Shasha area of the state.

Two persons also drowned after they were flung into the Third Mainland Bridge Lagoon in the ill-fated bus that happened on April 10, 2024.

While the body of the male victim was recovered on Friday, April 12, 2024, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said it was still searching for the female victim.

Meanwhile, Lagos State government has called on the public facilities owners, such as beaches and swimming pools to prioritise safety measures across their operations.

To this end, the state has issued an urgent advisory to all public facilities, to adhere strictly to the state swimming pool regulations of 2021.

According to the government, the measure is aimed at safe-guarding individuals engaging in water-related activities, both residents and visitors alike.

Speaking on the development through his X-handlet, Director General of the Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, expressed worry over the alarming rise in drowning incidents and loss of lives in the past few weeks.

According to him, such events have occurred across many locations, including hotel swimming pools, beaches, and the lagoon.

Citing the 2021 regulation , he said the Lagos State Swimming Pool Regulations were established to create a sustainable safety culture and outline critical safety policies, standards, and practices.

“Key provisions, include the presence of trained lifeguards, proper signage, incident reporting protocols, and restrictions on alcohol usage and fire around pool areas,” he said.

He noted that all operators of public swimming facilities must comply with these regulations to prevent further incidences