A uniformed policeman was caught on camera smoking in public at a local car dealership close to National Hospital, Central Business District, Abuja, on Friday afternoon.

In a post shared on X, the policeman, whose name EQ could not ascertain at press time, can be seen with his cap in hand and what looks like a cigarette in his mouth.

On his left shoulder was the police emblem, and he donned the popular black uniform of the police.

His smoking in public contravenes Section 9, Subsection 1(d) of the National Tobacco Control Act, 2015.

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According to the Act, “Except as otherwise provided in this Act or any other law, no person shall smoke tobacco or tobacco products outdoors in a public place and in an area that smoking is prohibited by the owner, controller, or occupant of such public place, who displays the prescribed warning sign, with the permit or approval of the Committee.”

Section 34, Subsection 1(d) of the Act recommends a fine not greater than N500,000 and/or a seven-year jail term for violators of this provision.

Muyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), agreed the policeman violated the law.

Reacting to the development, he said, “Even from his dressing, you will know he’s a deviant because I have seen many errors on the uniform.”

Adejobi added that the man’s actions contravened the Nigeria Police Force’s (NPF’s) ethics.

He said, “It is not an offence for any police personnel to smoke, but it becomes a disciplinary offence when he does that in uniform and in public. Every policeman has the right to enjoy their fundamental human rights and privileges, but we have our ethics and code of conduct. In this context, this officer erred.”
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