The private bill which outlawed smoking in public places in the state, has been signed into law by the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola.
A violation which might attract varying measurements of penalty ranging from a fine of N250, 000 to a jail term of six months.
The governor also signed an entirely different bill into law, which he said was enacted to punish any resident of the state who misuses the emergency telephone lines, specifically 767 and 112 dedicated for protection of lives and property.
Fashola signed the two bills into law before the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Kolawole Taiwo and Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeola Ipaye among other critical stakeholders.
Thisday reports:
The governor acknowledged that he had no difficulty at all assenting “to these bills. The laws only serve to strengthen our hands towards a more efficient discard of our responsibilities to protect lives and properties.”
He added that the law “to prohibit smoking in public places addresses serious public issues. Before the bills are presented, I have read a lot of comments about the possibility of enforcing the laws. But our commitment to public health and public safety is stronger than any other concern.”
On the false emergency calls, Fashola said the telephone lines – 767 and 112 – “are now officially designated as emergency lines in the state.The prohibition is important for every resident of the state to note that the lines cannot be used for advert purpose except with permission.”
He explained that no one was allowed to call the emergency telephone numbers except for the purpose of informing the call centre of any of the happenings or events properly defined as emergency.
The governor, therefore, said misuse of the lines “constitutes offence under this law and offenders are liable to conviction and penalty. The call centre is empowered to monitor the calls they receive and keep the log for a period of one year.
“Those who misuse the lines could be traced. The call centre is equally empowered by the law to block the lines. Section 14 provides that the offence attract a fine of 500,000 or three years imprisonment. The law covers other lines designated by the state government as emergency line.”
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