The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday passed a bill for a law to provide for the regulation of smoking in public places in the state to the Governor for ascent.

The bill which scaled through the third reading prohibits people of the state from smoking in all public places such as libraries, museum, public toilets, schools, hospitals, day care centres, public transportation and restaurants among others.

The bill consists of 16 sections. In section 12, posting of signs which states “No -Smoking” symbol, depicts a pictorial representation of a burning cigarette enclosed in a circle with a bar across.  It shall be prominently posted and properly maintained where smoking is regulated by the law, by the owner, occupier or person charge of a “No – Smoking Area”.

Section 4 on 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 three 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 stated that the penalty for noncompliance by owner/occupier of a “No –smoking area” shall attract N100,000:00 or six 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 the law.

The law further stated 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.