Marine coastguard to intervene in Lagos water accidents

THE Nigeria Marine Coastguard V olunteer Service ( NMCGVS) has set out to curb deaths by drowning in various water accidents across Lagos State.

According to the group , which is a seaborne regimented para- military formation, drowning has been overlooked in the countr y, especially in cases of flooding, boat mishaps and suicide in lagoons.

Speaking at the passing out parade of the first 75 trained resc ue officers in Lagos, the Chief Commander of NMCGVS, Captain Isaac Adamolekun, said there have been many incidents of drowning from the various water accidents in the country that are unaccounted for, while few were recorded. He said statistics from the group’s research records showed that over 1,292 deaths were recorded from drowning as a result of a flood that submerged the entire country from 2012 to 2023. Adamolekun said many lives have also been lost to drowning from boat mishaps and suicide in the lagoon due to lack of rescue operations and officials.

“The governors will call on some agencies to come and assist, but it turns out to be an isolated issue, nobody could go for their rescue because you don’t combat drowning when it is happening, you need to prepare for it. I mean preparation before the rescue operation.

“You need to study the terrain on how it happens, when it comes, which local government areas it starts from, and you need to deploy your men there. You don’t do search and rescue from afar; you do it as a first responder. You must be at the scene and know the terrain, so when it comes you will be proactive and counter it, not when it has happened, you are now looking for a solution, it is going to be a very difficult task,” he said.

Speaking on research, reports and recommendations for government implementation, Adamolekun said, the drowning situation in the 36 states of the country differs, with different scenarios and applications.