Smoking In Public Can Lead To 6 Months Jail Term In Lagos

Public smokers risk 6-month jail term in Lagos

on January 21, 2014   /   in News 1:43 am   /   Comments

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

The Lagos State House of Assembly, yesterday, passed a bill, aimed at banning smoking in public places in the state.

SMOKEThis came after several months of deliberation and public engagement, mainly to sensitise and gather residents’ opinions on the bill.

The 16-section bill, said that posting of signs which states “no smoking,” with a picture depicting a burning cigarette enclosed in a circle with a bar across, should be displayed in all “no smoking areas.”

The assembly noted that the picture depicting ban of smoking in a particular public place would be prominently posted and properly maintained by the owner, occupier or person in charge of the “no smoking areas.”

The bill, which, yesterday, scaled through the third reading, prohibited anybody smoking in all public places including libraries, museum, public toilets, schools, hospital, day care centres, public transportation and restaurants, among others.

The assembly proceeding which was presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, said smoking in public places would attract penalties ranging from three month imprisonment to six month jail term.

It said the bill “has been sent to Governor Babatunde Fashola  for an assent,” even though the development had attracted public outrage, citing infraction on fundamental human rights.

Section 4 of the bill said 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.

The bill on no smoking in public places, also stated the penalties for smoking in a “no smoking area” will be N10,000 fine or imprisonment for a term not  less than one month and not exceeding three months or both.

While 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 law also states the penalty for non compliance by owner/occupier of a “no smoking area” the offenders shall attract N100, 000 or 6 month imprisonment, or other non custodial punishment that the judge may 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 law states that any person who smokes in the presence of a child commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of N15,000 or imprisonment for a month or both.

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Posted: at 21-01-2014 05:14 AM (10 years ago) | Addicted Hero

Area boys re in trouble den

Posted: at 21-01-2014 05:54 AM (10 years ago) | Newbie

Everything na jail in Naija now....though, I support this law because some of we people dem like over doing things....you go see someone smoking in a public restaurant and the smoke all over your face.

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Posted: at 21-01-2014 06:10 AM (10 years ago) | Hero

you mean na for  BUNK we go dey sleep dey smoke

UNA DON TRYOOOO

Posted: at 21-01-2014 06:16 AM (10 years ago) | Upcoming

E good small
Eneh say so via nokia 3310

Posted: at 21-01-2014 06:46 AM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Then, politician wey thief money for LAGOS, how many months for PRISON ?

Posted: at 21-01-2014 07:05 AM (10 years ago) | Upcoming

Baba Fasho..Lagos is not your papa Property..Try and do the good thing involve..You can't rule lagos state without human being the good citizen of Nigeria..Mix Race...Those People you are making unconfortable there are human being like you..Forget that your father send you to school..You have the opportunity to be there is the Power of the Masses and now you are fustrating them..Is not fair..And Again what kind of smoke..Smoke have Many class.Is is cigrate or weed?.Nigeria is not a developed country that you band smokers or direct them where to smoke,If defaulted then in Jail..That Jail is toilet..is not a place for Human..So sir have good Advicers to achieve your dream for a better Nigeria..We are not  MUGU..enough please..

Posted: at 21-01-2014 07:33 AM (10 years ago) | Upcoming

A pack of 20 sticks is around £8.88 in uk
About £0.40 or 40 penny a stick
About 105 Naira for one stick or 2330 Naira the pack
You spend this money to be sick with acute TB and probably enter hell because anything dirty is a sin.....

Posted: at 21-01-2014 08:15 AM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Filling up our already overflowing  badly kept jails with smokers is not the answer.

Personally, I would rather that people who are caught smoking are FINED on the spot.

As well as this, we should ask how many people in Lagos (and Nigeria) are really aware of the effects of smoking on their health. Healthy living workshops should be started where the drinking of alcohol and smoking is discussed and its effects on the body been shown in documentarys. This should be started in schools to warn the younger generation against taking up drinking and smoking.
 

Posted: at 21-01-2014 08:41 AM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac

      

Posted: at 21-01-2014 09:27 AM (10 years ago) | Addicted Hero