Banning Public Smoking Begins In Lagos

With effect from Sunday,17 August, 2014, anybody caught smoking in public places in Lagos State,will be arrested and prosecuted, says the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA). 

It would be recalled that in February 2014, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN),  signed into law a private bill, which outlawed smoking in public places in the state.

 

The penalties for first offenders include N10, 000 fine and one to three months imprisonment. Repeat offenders may be fined up to N50, 000 or get up to six months imprisonment.

According to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Ade Ipaye said: “The Lagos State Government, in assenting to the bills, take cognisance of the dangers posed by public smoking to members of the public who are not smokers”.

He added: “The law prohibits smoking in all of those areas that have been designated as non-smoking areas, including museums, public toilets, libraries, nurseries, day care centres and any facility used for the care of infants.

“Public telephone kiosks, public transportation vehicles, private vehicles where there are more than one person, school buses, restaurants and cinemas, theatres, amusement parks or any other place used by members of the public, conference centres and exhibition halls. Factories and other premises in which more than one person works and areas used as places of work, including the secretariat, are all defined in the law as public places”.

Smokers, who smoke in the presence of a minor or anyone below the age of 18 years risks a fine of N15,000 or six months imprisonment.