Public Smoking to be Banned in Nigeria

Source from:  Channels  01/22/2014

The Lagos State House of Assembly has passed a bill for a law to ban smoking in public places in the state.

The bill which scaled through the third reading at plenary on Monday, January 20, prohibits anybody smoking in all public places such as libraries, museum, public toilets, schools, hospital, day care centres, public transportation and restaurants among others.

The bill consists of 16 sections and section 12 states that a "No – Smoking" sign with a pictorial representation of a burning cigarette enclosed in a circle with a bar across shall be prominently posted and properly maintained where smoking is regulated by the law by the owner, occupier or person in- charge of a "No – Smoking Area".

Section 4: Duty of owner/occupier, says that it shall be the duty of those who owns or occupies public places to ensure that approved "No – Smoking" signs are displayed conspicuously at each entrance and in prominent locations throughout the premises.    Penalties for smoking in a "No-Smoking area" will be N10,000,00  fine or  imprisonment for a term not  less than one month and not exceeding 3 months or both.   

While any person who repeatedly violates the provisions shall on conviction be liable to a fine of N50,000:00 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 N100,000,00 or 6 month imprisonment, or other non custodial punishment that the judge may deem fit.

"It shall be an offence to obstruct a duly authorized officer from carrying out his duties under the provision of this law".

The law further 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 N15,000,00 or imprisonment for a month or both. Enditem