By Ngozi Akums
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday, January 20, 2014 passed a law prohibiting smoking in public places in the state.
The bill will provide for the regulation of smoking in designated places in Lagos State. Some of the designated places stipulated by the bill include toilets, tertiary institutions, public transportation vehicles, shopping centres, stadia and restaurants.
Government sources say those who run foul of the law shall be liable to one-year imprisonment or option of fine not less than N15,000 naira.
The law also stipulates the following: any person involved with the management of public place should put a ‘No-Smoking’ sign in conspicuous areas.
The bill also provides that any person who contradicts the section of the legislation shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine of #100,000 or six months imprisonment and finally the bill says ‘It shall be an offence to smoke in the presence of a child under 18 years or expose the child to any form of injurious smoke.
The new bill is an addition to laws enacted by the Lagos State government to protect citizens from hazards that happens as a result of human activities. Laws regarding Air and Noise Pollution were some of the recently passed bills.
