LASG to clamp-down on public smokers

Mr Bola Shabi, General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), on Wednesday said that public smoking would no longer be tolerated in the state as offenders would be sanctioned.

Shabi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that this was to ensure a high standard of safety in public places and ensure sound well being of the residents of the state.

The General Manager expressed the hope that before the end of the second quarter of the year, public smoking would have been reduced to its barest minimum.

“People have started reducing their smoking habits in open places especially due to health reasons.

“In club houses, we have been advising owners to paste “a no-smoking signs’’, and also provide designated smoking areas for smokers which must be erected within a specific time frame,’’ he said.

Shabi said that those who were not ready to comply would be arrested and sanctioned.

The General Manager said LASEPA had further warned events’ centre owners against indulging their customers on public smoking, stating that they must paste a non-smoking sign in such facilities

“In human rights, we have the right to do what we want to do but what we are trying to do is to ensure that we do not allow our individual lifestyles to affect others negatively.

“There should be a designated area to indulge in ones habit rather than inconveniencing others,’’ Shabi said.

NAN recalls that part of the new traffic law for smoking while driving attracts a fine of N20, 000 for first offender while subsequent offender pays N30, 000.