By OLAYINKA AJAYI & Kehinde Ajose

Amid mixed reactions springing up from the prohibition of smoking in public places, passed by the Lagos House of Assembly recently, Saturday Vanguard sought the views of Lanre Suraj, a public affairs analyst who spoke on the yet-to-be-signed bill. He commended the lawmakers for taking such a bold step in saving lives.

In his words: “It is for the good health  of not only Lagos State indigenes but Nigerians as a whole. If you recollect, there was a decree introduced by Professor Olukoye Rasome Kuti which actually banned smoking in public places. It is a very good idea to re-enact such laws. It has been in existence but people think it was no more there. The Lagos state anti-smoking law should be enforced by everybody.” .

He further condemned insinuations by people who believe that the law is of no relevance as other key issues affecting residency in the state are not being attended to.

“It is very unfair for some people to see public smoking as minor issue because it endangers the lives of not only the smokers but also the secondary smokers who are innocent but who inhale the end product of these substances.”

He further added: “The primary thing for everybody now should be good health. It is when your health is in place that you can talk about other issues in the education sector and the economy. There is no doubt that there is poverty in the land, but in a strong term, the anti-smoking law is commendable.

“The most important thing is the enforcement of the law so that enforcement agencies should not take advantage of the law for selfish reasons. They should focus on how the implementation of the law should be monitored both by civil society, organizations, groups and non governmental organisations (NGOs) in the area of health and criminal activities who will in turn work with the law enforcement agencies. The law enforcement agencies would always want to take advantage of those caught in the act the same way they would want to take advantage of the same-sex law. One of our predicaments as a people is to expose the excesses of the law enforcement agencies when there is abuse.”

Some conservative individuals believe that the proposed law is long over due and it will protect the non-smokers from the hazardous health implications of smoking in the public. Others also opine that smoking in public places causes passive smoking for the non-smokers around, affecting the health of other people in the public. Therefore, a ban on smoking in the public becomes a matter that deserves urgent attention, hence the passage of the bill recently.

On the flip-side, the liberalists who believe that this proposed law will trample on the human rights of the smokers said smoking is a choice habit. These individuals argue that people should have a right to their lifestyle choices.

Reacting to this development, Barrister Bamidele Aturu, a human rights activist said: “I believe that banning smoking in public places in Lagos is a necessary option. Smoking is something that a person chooses to engage in. But, since second-hand smoking can be so harmful, I believe the right of others not to be exposed to second-hand smoking should be considered rather than the smokers . It is a timely bill that not only safeguards the lives of the non-smokers, but indirectly protects smokers from the hazards of smoking.

According to Dr Joe Odumakin, a human rights activist: ‘The public smoking bill is balanced. People have a right to smoke, but it must not be at the expense of the non smoker or other members of the public. Smokers are liable to die young and it is harmful and hazardous. Passive smoking is more dangerous than active smoking, and the health implications should always be at the forefront of our minds.

To crown it up, as much as it tramples on the human rights of smokers as they have a right to engage in their smoking habit, the other side of the coin should always be considered. The non-smoker is also exposed to the dangers of smoking; and even children may pick up this habit if a restriction is not placed on smoking in the public. So, it is right to ban it in public places.