The Lagos Safety Commission and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, (LASEPA), have concluded plans to enforce indoor smoking law at Night clubs, bars and lounges across the state.
The duo of the Director General of Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola and General Manager, LASEPA, Dr. Tunde Ajayi, disclosed this at a safety workshop organised for the hospitality sector, Night clubs, bars and lounge owners across the state.
The event with the theme: “Establishing a safety culture in the night life sector in Lagos State”, was organized and packaged by Lagos Safety Commission.
In his welcome address, the Director General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, said it is high time Nigerians complied with rules and regulation especially with international standards as it relates to smoking.
He maintained that in every Hotel there should be a specialized place designed for smoking cigarettes, but not at a place where everyone is relaxing and enjoying themselves.
Mojola maintained that though service quality in the hospitality sector in Nigeria can be inconsistent, with issues such as poor customer service, lack of trained personnel and substandard facilities, but with proper monitoring by relevant agencies and adequate safety precautions, the challenges will reduce drastically.
He emphasized that henceforth, indoor smoking at Night clubs would be enforced to ensure that there are designated places for smoking in our facilities, threatening that violators will face the full wrath of law.
” There is no doubt, Lagos State will enforce indoor smoking at Night clubs, bars and lounges because it is high time we do our business as the law stipulates but not as we want it to be done, especially in Lagos State where safety and health of all the citizens is of utmost concern of the Sanwo-Olu-led administration”, Mojola said.
Corroborating the Safety Commission boss, the General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency(LASEPA) Dr Tunde Ajayi said, he also supported the enforcement of indoor smoking at Night clubs, bars and lounges in the state.
Ajayi maintained that as it is in other climes, where sharp practices happen, some elements in the hospitality business do not comply with Safety rules, saying the situation is being handled by relevant agencies with stiff sanctions set to be imposed.
He pointed out that with forums like this from time to time, there will be proper information and education on how best to conduct hospitality business in a customer-friendly, and safety-conscious environment.
Occupational Health and Safety Manager , Mr Ehi Iden, Hospitality Consultant- Expose Brands Mr Yomi Ayoola and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),officer Alhaji Maijama’a Abdullaji who was represented by Mr Bashir Oladosu, were of the opinion that if service quality will be improved, there should be investment in training and capacity building for hospitality industry personnel coupled with constant monitoring to ensure compliance with global best practices.
Also, it was suggested that Night clubs should have visible exit signage, indicating ingress and exit doors where people would be versatile with coming in and out of the building to avert stampede.
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