Lagos State government has expressed its readiness to stop public smoking particularly around the night clubs, bars and lounges across the state.
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The state through the Safety Commission and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, (LASEPA), said the move is to ensure safety precautions and prevent the health hazards that are associated with smoking for the passive smokers.
Speaking at a safety workshop organised for the stakeholders in hospitality sector, including the owners of night clubs, bars and lounges, the Director General Lagos Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola and General Manager, LASEPA, Dr. Tunde Ajayi affirmed the commitment of the state government to prevent premature death from disease for those who do not smoke, but are exposed to secondhand smoke.
While speaking on the theme of the event: “Establishing a safety culture in the night life sector in Lagos State”, Mr Mojola explained that the Commission organised the workshop to intimate owners of these facilities to play by the rules.
Mojola who acknowledged inconsistency in quality service delivery in the hospitality sector in Nigeria said that it is high time Nigerians comply with rules and regulation especially with international standards as it relates to smoking.
“With proper monitoring by relevant agencies and adequate safety precautions, the challenges will reduce drastically, just as he emphasize that henceforth, indoor smoking at Night clubs would be enforced, this would ensure that all of us have designated places for smoking in our facilities, or else the full wrath of law would be on us.”
“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.
He maintained that in every Hotels, there should be a specialized place designed for smoking cigarettes, but not at a place where everyone is relaxing and enjoying themselves.
Activating enforcement
The General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA Dr. Tunde Ajayi, re-echoed the resolve of the government to activate enforcement of indoor smoking at Night clubs, bars and lounges in the state.
Ajayi stated that no country is immune to sharp practices in the hospitality industry as those caught in the act were appropriately sanctioned by the relevant authorities, stressing that the state government would not relent in this regard.
He stressed that the consistent convocation of such workshop for the stakeholders in the hospitality business will avail them the opportunity to be abreast of proper information and education on how best to conduct hospitality business in a customer-friendly, and safety-conscious environment.
Capacity building
Some to the resource persons at the workshop emphasised the need for investment in capacity building for those in the hospitality industry and constant monitoring to ensure compliance with global best practices. They also suggested visible safety signage at every strategic spots of the night clubs in order to prevent disaster during emergencies
An Occupational Health and Safety Manager, Mr Ehi Iden, a Hospitality Consultant Mr Yomi Ayoola, and Alhaji Maijama’a Abdullaji, from National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA who was represented by Mr Bashir Oladosu, were among the resource persons at the workshop.
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