The Lagos State Government has stated that it is committed to close down any recreational facility discovered to be flouting the established rules and regulations of the state’s safety commission.
According to The PUNCH, this was stated by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, on Thursday.
Omotoso’s remarks came in response to the incident involving Masidat Kassim at the recently inaugurated Giwa Gardens Waterpark in Lagos on Sunday.
He said, “Once an offence is committed in your facility, it becomes a criminal matter and the police will take over. There are rules and regulations the safety commission has spelt out for them and if they don’t observe them, they will be shut down. Safety is the responsibility of all of us. We have over a thousand swimming pools in Lagos and the safety commission does not have staff who will be there for 24 hours. Anyone who sees anything like that woman should escalate it, then, the safety commission will move in.”
Kassim, who recounted her experience on her Instagram page, described the injuries she sustained at the facility and advised caution to the public intending to visit the establishment.
In her Instagram post, she recounted, “This morning, I went to Giwa Gardens with my family to have fun, and it did not end well. The pools are too shallow for the long slides, my daughter hit her head when she went on it and came back to tell me I shouldn’t go…I thought she was exaggerating. I went on the slide and hit my forehead head on the tiles in the pool; I have been to at least five water parks in different countries; there is always a rubber laid in all the pools, my head hit the tiles directly, and my lips cut into two.”
Kassim further expressed her disappointment in the water park’s safety measures, stating, “The first accident I had was at the river; I tumbled in the tube, and the back of my head hit the tiles. The staff did not even see it as a big deal!! It took them almost 15 mins before I saw one who took me casually to the nurse. The first aid service is wack!!! No good plaster available!”
“Go to Giwa Gardens at your own risk,” she exclaimed.
She stressed that her aim was not to gain attention but to caution others about the potential hazards at the water park.
Kassim then urged the Lagos State Government to intervene, requesting a comprehensive quality control assessment at Giwa Gardens.
Situated in Sangotedo along Lekki-Epe Expressway, Giwa Gardens commenced operations on December 16, presenting various water attractions and rides.
In response to Kassim’s social media post, the owner, Keji Giwa, apologized for her ordeal and confirmed an ongoing investigation into the incident.
Giwa also pledged to provide Kassim with a complimentary premium ticket inclusive of food and beverages for her next visit.
