Smoking in areas designed as public places in Lagos state It is now an offence punishable by three months imprisonment or a fine of N10,000, as the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday passed a law prohibiting public smoking.
While the above punishment is for first offenders, those who repeatedly go against the law would face further punishments.
Such repeated offence attracts, upon conviction, a fine of N50,000 or six months imprisonment or both.
Section 4 of the bill says that it shall be the duty of those who own or occupy public places to ensure that approved ‘No–Smoking’ signs are displayed conspicuously at each entrance and in prominent locations throughout the premises.
It states further that owners or occupiers of public places who refuse to post the ‘No–Smoking’ sign in such places shall be liable of a fine of N100,000 or six months imprisonment, or other punishments as deemed fit by the judge handling a case relating to smoking in public places.
The law stipulates N15,000, one-month imprisonment or both for anyone who smokes in the presence of children.
Passed after it scaled through the third reading on Monday, the bill prohibits smoking in all public places such as libraries, museum, public toilets, schools, hospital, day-care centres, public transportation and restaurants.
The bill, which consists of 16 sections, states that it shall be an offence to obstruct a duly authorised officer from carrying out his duties under the provision of this law. It also gives powers of implementation of the law to the Ministry of Environment.
