The Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSCOM) and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) announced on Tuesday their resolve to enforce indoor smoking regulations in nightclubs, bars, and lounges across the state.

The Director-General of the Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, and the General Manager of LASEPA, Dr. Tunde Ajayi, made this pronouncement during a safety workshop organized for owners of establishments in the hospitality sector (nightclubs, bars, and lounges) across the state. The event took place at Oriental Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos.

In his welcome address at the event, themed “Establishing a Safety Culture in the Nightlife Sector in Lagos State,” organized by the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mojola emphasized the need for Nigerians to comply with rules and regulations, especially international standards regarding smoking.

The SafetyCommission boss insisted that every hotel should have a designated area for smoking cigarettes, ensuring it is not in common areas where people relax and enjoy themselves.

While acknowledging the inconsistencies in service quality within the Nigerian hospitality sector, including issues such as poor customer service, lack of trained personnel, and substandard facilities, Mojola expressed optimism that proper monitoring by relevant agencies and adequate safety precautions would significantly reduce these challenges.

He stressed that henceforth, indoor smoking at nightclubs would be strictly enforced, warning that failure to comply would result in severe legal consequences. Mojola declared, “Lagos State will enforce indoor smoking at nightclubs, bars, and lounges, aligning our business practices with the law and prioritizing the safety and health of all citizens.”

Dr. Ajayi, the General Manager of LASEPA, also emphasized the imperative nature of enforcing indoor smoking regulations in nightclubs, bars, and lounges in the state. He observed non-compliance in some sectors of the hospitality industry and assured that relevant agencies were addressing the issue with the imposition of stringent sanctions.

Ajayi concluded that events like the safety workshop would provide essential information and education on best practices for conducting hospitality business in a customer-friendly and safety-conscious environment.

Contributing to the discussion, Occupational Health and Safety Manager Mr. Ehi Iden, Hospitality Consultant Mr. Yomi Ayoola, and Alhaji Maijama’a Abdullaji from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), represented by Mr. Bashir Oladosu, collectively suggested that improving service quality requires investing in training and capacity building for hospitality industry personnel, coupled with continuous monitoring to ensure compliance with global best practices.

Furthermore, the experts recommended that nightclubs should have visible exit signage indicating entry and exit doors to facilitate smooth movements during emergencies and prevent stampedes. (Nigerian Tribune)