The Lagos State Government has punished 580 nightclubs and restaurants for allowing indoor smoking in 2024, in a move to protect public health and enforce smoking laws.
The Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, shared the news at the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.
He said the commission visited 2,024 public places last year and found that 580 of them broke the indoor smoking rules.
Also Read:
- FG Plans 10,000 New Homes for Health Workers to Curb Brain Drain
- Hospital Superbug Can Eat Medical Plastic, Study Warns
Mojola said, “Public smoking is not allowed, and there’s a law already in place to stop it. People are only allowed to smoke in specific areas within some venues. If you see people smoking in buses or enclosed spaces, report them immediately. This is a serious public health matter.”
He added that the commission started an anti-indoor smoking campaign in 2024 to educate people about the dangers of second-hand smoke, which can cause cancer and other major health problems.
“We need the media to help spread the message that indoor smoking is not allowed. Our campaign is simple — ‘See it. Say it. Sort it,’” Mojola said.
When asked about the use of consultants, Mojola explained that they were hired to support the commission’s work because of a lack of staff. However, he admitted that not all consultants followed the rules.
“We have bad eggs among them. Four of them have already been sentenced for illegal activities. But as Lagos grows, we must find ways to manage capacity gaps,” he said.
Also at the event, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde, highlighted the commission’s achievements. He said they carried out safety audits at many construction sites, banks, and factories across the state.
Oyerinde added that the government remains committed to making Lagos safer for everyone.