Lagos state bans smoking in public places

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday passed a bill outlawing smoking in public places.

The bill is now with the executive arm of the government for Governor Babatunde Fashola’s assent.

The legislation prohibits anybody smoking in all public places such as libraries, museum, public toilets, schools, hospital, day care centres, public transportation and restaurants among others.

The stipulated penalties for violating the restriction, range from N10,000 to N50,000 fines or imprisonment.

A statement by the Assembly said the bill consists 16 sections, which explained the regulation of smoking in public places.

It read in parts, “In section 12, posting of signs with ‘No Smoking’ symbol, depicts a pictorial representation of a burning cigarette enclosed in a circle with a bar across. It shall be prominently posted and properly maintained where smoking is regulated by the law, by the owner, occupier or person in charge of a ‘No – Smoking Area.’

“Section 4: Duty of owner/occupier, says that it shall be the duty of those who own or occupies public places to ensure that approved ‘No – Smoking’ signs are displayed conspicuously at each entrance and in prominent locations throughout the premises.

“Penalties for smoking in a ‘No-Smoking area’ will be a N10,000 fine or imprisonment for a term not less than one month and not exceeding three months or both.

“Any person who repeatedly violates the provisions shall on conviction be liable to a fine of N50, 000 or six month imprisonment or both.”

The bill also stated that the penalty for non-compliance by owner/occupier of a ‘No – smoking area’ would be N100, 000 or six month imprisonment, or other non-custodial punishment that the judge might deem fit.

“It shall be an offence to obstruct a duly authorised officer from carrying out his duties under the provision of this law,” the statement said.

The law further stated that any person who smokes in the presence of a child had committed an offence and would be convicted. Such person will then pay a fine of N15,000 or be imprisoned for a month or both.