By Monsur Olowoopejo

Lagos—Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State yesterday vowed to apply relevant laws against erring individuals and government officials implicated in any  avoidable boat mishap and other accidents.

Speed boats at Gelegele port

The state had in the last six months recorded over five boat mishaps, which led to the death of over 15 persons.

The governor disclosed this at the 2015 World Safety Day Celebration themed ‘Building A Culture of Prevention on Occupational Safety and Health’, after receiving 2, 400 life jackets from Mr. Charles Ngoka, Deputy Managing Director of Total E and P Nigeria in Alausa, Ikeja.

Ambode lamented that incidents of boat mishaps, building collapse, fire disasters and other avoidable accidents are becoming rampant in the state, saying “Residents disregard safety regulations and guidelines in their daily activities.”

While stressing that although accidents are realities of life, actions of residents and their resolve to adhere to safety measures would reduce the rate and the degree of fatalities often recorded whenever it occurs.

The governor who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule said ‘’I believe that time has come for all stakeholders in public safety including relevant government agencies to rise up to this challenge; as it is not enough to have regulations and standards, they must be enforced and complied with to prevent avoidable loss of lives and properties.”

Earlier in her welcome address, the Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mrs. Dominga Odebunmi noted that there has been a significant increase in public awareness for safety   as a result of   vigorous sensitization and advocacy in all the five administrative divisions of the state, noting  that there has been constant review of the state government programmes and policies on safety which she noted has helped to reduce incidents of accidents in workplaces, while  adding that the effort has also helped to achieve 55% safety awareness in public schools across the state.