The Lagos State government said it penalised 580 nightclubs and restaurants for breaching indoor smoking regulations in 2024, as part of its aggressive drive to promote public health and enforce safety standards across the state.
Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, disclosed this during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.
He stated that the Commission, the only ‘Safety Commission in Nigeria’, visited 2,024 public places last year, out of which 580 establishments were sanctioned for indoor smoking infractions.
Mojola explained that while certain facilities like nightclubs may permit smoking, it must be restricted to designated areas.
He warned that indiscriminate smoking in public spaces such as buses remains illegal and urged residents to report such acts promptly.
“Public smoking is not allowed, and there’s a bill already in place to prohibit it. People are permitted to smoke only in designated areas within certain venues. If you see people smoking in buses or enclosed spaces, report them immediately. This is a serious public health matter,” he said.
He noted that the Commission launched an anti-indoor smoking campaign in 2024 to sensitise the public on the risks of second-hand smoke, which he said could lead to cancer and other severe health conditions.
“We need the media to help push the message that indoor smoking is not allowed. Our campaign is simple—‘See it. Say it. Sort it,” Mojola said.
Dwelling on the use of consultants by the Commission, Mojola explained that they were engaged to support the agency’s work due to limited staffing.
He, however, acknowledged that some consultants had engaged in unwholesome practices.
“We have bad eggs among them. Four of them have already been sentenced to prison for illegal activities. But as Lagos grows, we must find ways to manage capacity gaps,” he said.
Also speaking at the briefing, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde, outlined the Lagos State Safety Commission’s key achievements in the past year.
He announced the successful completion of the Lagos State Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan (2021–2026), developed in collaboration with government agencies, professional bodies, and private stakeholders.
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