Lagos State Government seek to ban smoking in public places

The Lagos State House of Assembly on
January 20th passed a bill seeking to make
smoking in public places illegal in the state, with
first offenders having options of paying a fine of
N10,000, three months in jail or both. The bill
which is waiting the approval of Gov. Fashola to be
signed into law prohibits residents from smoking
in places such as libraries, museum, public toilets,
schools, hospital, day-care centres, public
transportation, restaurants among others.
Lagos residents who break this new law
repeatedly would either be sent to prison for 6
months or pay a fine of N50,000, while owners of
public places who encourage the breaking of this
law would pay a fine of N100,000 or be sent to jail
for six months.
The bill also seeks to punish anyone who smokes
in front of a child with a fine of N15,000 or six
months imprisonment. The bill also directs
corporate organizations to place the 'No Smoking'
sign in their premises. Companies who default
would pay a fine of N250,000.
The Bill when passed into law would be
supervised by the Lagos Environmental Protection
Agency.