Why I think the validity of the new Lagos Tenancy Law should be challenged in court

On Wednesday, August 24, 2011. Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola signed the controversial Tenancy Bill into law in Lagos State. The law now regulates transactions between landlords and tenants in Lagos covering different aspects of their relationship. The key part of the law that has virtually everybody talking about it is the section that states: "It shall be unlawful for a landlord or his agent to demand or receive from a sitting tenant rent in excess of six (6) months (one year in the case of a new tenant) in respect of any premises." In effect, a landlord cannot collect more than a year's rent from a new tenant and cannot collect more than 6 months rent from a sitting tenant. The state attorney general, Ade Ipaye said defaulters "shall be liable to a fine of N100,000 or three months imprisonment."

Personally, I do not want to get into the argument about the advantages or disadvantages of the bill. I am more interested in the fact that the Tenancy Law does not apply in some high-brow areas of Lagos State viz. Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Ikeja GRA and Apapa. The first question that comes to my mind is: What kind of segregation is this?

Now, some may argue that the Lagos State Government charges higher rates for these areas in terms of Land Use Charge and other property levies and taxes. I would counter that by saying the higher rates are based on the higher valuation of property in these locations.

By incorporating this kind of segregation into the Tenancy Law, Governor Fashola seems to be confirming George Orwell's assertion that "All animals are equal but some are more equal than others"in his classic novel- Animal Farm. Well, I would also like to remind Governor Fashola that there is also a saying that goes thus: "What's good for the goose is good for the gander."

The Governor cannot expect that some people will be sent to jail for breaking a particular law and other citizen's within the same state will not be bound by it at all. This makes the law defective in my opinion- in fact it is unethical and immoral.

The excuse that has been given to justify the inherent segregation in the Lagos State Tenancy Law is that people living in areas outside of Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Ikeja GRA and Apapa are the ones that are exploited the most and as such need more protection; so in essence if you live in this four locations in Lagos and you are exploited- you are on your own.

This could be just the beginning of other forms of legislated segregation; there could soon be a separate law for public servants and another for those that work in the private sector. In fact, I would venture to suggest that the the residents of Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Ikeja GRA and Apapa should seek to create their own separate state since no-less a person than the Governor of Lagos State thinks they are different from other residents of the state.

Whilst I am not trying to ridicule the efforts of the Governor to curb the exploitation of tenants in Lagos State, I think it is absolutely absurd that the new Tenancy Law does not cover every inch of Lagos State. This is against the natural concept of Justice and seems like a disincetive to be poor or not to be super-rich enough to build/live in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Ikeja GRA and Apapa. I don't think anybody has a right to condemn people that seek the short-cut to prosperity when the government itself is now making separate laws for the super-rich.

The Lagos State Tenancy Law as it currently stands is in bad taste and should be challenged in court because I believe it may be illegal in the first place thereby making its provisions null and void.

Researchers have found a way to disarm HIV

Scientists have found a way to prevent HIV from damaging the immune system and say their discovery may offer a new approach to developing a vaccine against AIDS.
Researchers from the United States and Europe working in laboratories on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) found it is unable to damage the immune system if cholesterol is removed from the virus's membrane.
"It's like an army that has lost its weapons but still has flags, so another army can recognize it and attack it," said Adriano Boasso of Imperial College London, who led the study.
The team now plans to investigate how to use this way of inactivating the virus and possibly develop it into a vaccine.
Usually when a person becomes infected with HIV, the body's innate immune response puts up an immediate defense. But some researchers believe HIV causes the innate immune system to overreact. This weakens the immune system's next line of defense, known as the adaptive immune response.
For this study -- published on Monday in the journal Blood -- Boasso's team removed cholesterol from the membrane around the virus and found that this stopped HIV from triggering the innate immune response. This in turn led to a stronger adaptive response, orchestrated by a type of immune cells called T cells.
AIDS kills around 1.8 million people a year worldwide. An estimated 2.6 million people caught HIV in 2009, and 33.3 million people are living with the virus.
Major producers of current HIV drugs include Gilead Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline.
Scientists from companies, non-profits and governments around the world have been trying for many years to make a vaccine against HIV but have so far had only limited success.
A 2009 study in Thailand involving 16,000 volunteers showed for the first time that a vaccine could prevent HIV infection in a small number of people, but since the efficacy was only around 30 percent researchers were forced back to the drawing board.
An American team working on an experimental HIV vaccine said in May that it helped monkeys with a form of the AIDS virus control the infection for more than a year, suggesting it may lead to a vaccine for people.
HIV is spread in many ways -- during sex, on needles shared by drug users, in breast milk and in blood -- so there is no single easy way to prevent infection. The virus also mutates quickly and can hide from the immune system, and attacks the very cells sent to battle it.
"HIV is very sneaky," Boasso said in a statement. "It evades the host's defenses by triggering overblown responses that damage the immune system. It's like revving your car in first gear for too long -- eventually the engine blows out.
He said this may be why developing a vaccine has proven so tricky. "Most vaccines prime the adaptive response to recognize the invader, but it's hard for this to work if the virus triggers other mechanisms that weaken the adaptive response."
HIV takes its membrane from the cell that it infects, the researchers explained in their study. This membrane contains cholesterol, which helps keep it fluid and enables it to interact with particular types of cell.
Normally, a subset of immune cells called plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) recognize HIV quickly and react by producing signaling molecules called interferons. These signals activate various processes which are initially helpful, but which damage the immune system if switched on for too long.
Working with scientists Johns Hopkins University, the University of Milan and Innsbruck University, Boasso's team found that if cholesterol is removed from HIV's envelope, it can no longer activate pDCs. As a result, T cells, which orchestrate the adaptive response, can fight the virus more effectively.
Source: Reuters

My interview with a popular Nairalander

If you have been reading this blog previously, you should know by now that I am a great fan of Nairaland.com and because of this I spend a good part of my time online on the website. Find below my interview with one of the forum's popular members called Toba. He provides an insight into his attraction to Muslim girls and more...

Me: Can you introduce yourself to us?
Toba: My name is Toba as called by friends and family. A young, dedicated and enterprising Nigerian, who loves to strive for the best in all things I do or get myself involved in.

Me: Please give us a brief insight into your background?
Toba: I was born in Lagos Nigeria, in the late 70s/80s to a Christian family. I attended primary school in Lagos and Ibadan, whilst secondary school was in Lagos. A very strong Christian right from childhood and had been in the church choir from a very tender age.

Me: We both met on Nairaland.com and you once told me there that you attended mosques and even fasted in the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan for some time. How did that happen?
Toba: Yes, you are very correct, sometime between 1994 and 1996, I was with an aunt married to a Muslim and the very close neighbour we had in the opposite flat was a Muslims with an extended family. I and my sibling were very close to this family, we spent time together often and then they would tell us things about Islam. Honestly, this family are a good example of tolerance in Islam with the way we were received and loved. My aunt’s husband who is also a Muslim did tell us about Islam. Hence, we chose to be part of it, whilst still attending our regular church services. We got orientated a bit about Islam, I was taught how to recite fatia (Suratul Fatiha), performing ablution, I used to wake up early during Ramadan and also got to mosque in the evening sometimes to pray.

Me: That is very interesting; can you tell us about your academic life and the job you do currently?
Toba: Yeah! After my secondary school,I wrote JAMB(UME/PCE). After a couple of years, I got admission to study Industrial Relations and Personnel Management as well as Estate Management, both courses of which I had little idea of some 10 t0 13 years ago. I thought of being an accountant, but either my JAMB cut-off mark or something else prevented me from having my way. I eventually picked Estate Management hoping to cross over to accounting after my first year provided I had at least a 2.2 Graded Points Average (GPA). After my first year, I fell in love with Estate Management and then decided to see it through. After my graduation, I prayed and hoped to serve within southwestern state in Nigeria. I got my NYSC call-up letter that year in February and in March I met someone who is an official at NYSC.

The person confirmed to me that our NYSC posting was already done and I should accept my fate as regards wherever I was posted to. I got my Posting Letter in April that year and behold, i was posted to YOBE State. I felt bad to be candid but took up courage. After the three weeks orientation, I found myself back in Lagos. I told the NYSC official I had a place to serve in mind. I was allowed to. I served there (as in here). After my service, my boss said he wouldn’t allow me to go that I have to work here on permanent basis. We agreed terms. Behold, here I am now doing well in Real Estate practice in Nigeria in one of the best firms in country.

Me: Are you married?
Toba: No

Me: Why not?
Toba: Seriously, sometimes I ask myself the same question. To be candid, maybe I haven’t found the person I feel I like/love. The person that has the wife characteristics in her.

Me: What characteristics are you looking for?
Toba: If I should list them all, it may take the whole space. Let me just summarise them as God-fearing, respectful, well-mannered and cultured, intelligent, educated, fluent in English, kindhearted, friendly, reserved, gentle, someone that would be satisfied with what she has, non-promiscuous and must also be pretty.

Me: You have created some sensation with your interest in Muslim girls on Nairaland.com, why is that so?
Toba: Its true, I have been on Nairaland for quite a while since 2006 and I have studied people’s characters online. I wouldn’t want to talk too much but I think the Muslim ladies on Nairaland are more cultured and reserved. Well it’s online character and maybe different from what’s obtainable in reality though. For now, I think the Muslims are cool

Me: Are there any that have really caught your fancy over time?
Toba: Do you mean on Nairaland?

Me: Yes
Toba: Of course, more than three. There is even one I like so much amongst them. She has really impressed me with everything pertaining to her character online. I wouldn’t even mind giving up anything for her.

Me: What is her Nairaland user name?
Toba: Am I protected if I mention it here?

Me: Do you mean you don't want it published?
Toba: Not really, I am just concerned about how others would feel hearing me picking one ahead of them (lol).

Me: Fair enough, I will not publish if you say I shouldn't

Me: Is it safe to say that you don't mind marrying a practising Muslim?
Toba: Yes, provided we agree on mutual terms

Me: What would be your terms under such an arrangement?
Toba: Mutual respect for each other’s belief

Me: What about the faith that your children would have?
Toba: That’s a JAMB question. Is it right for me to say, they (children) would decide when they grow up?

Me: Don't you think Christian girls may feel you are not serious about your religion?
Toba: Well I don’t care whatever anyone says. I have read my bible from Genesis to revelation more than 3 times and I know what God demands from me in order to make heaven. Once I do that, I wouldn’t be bothered by side talks.

Me: Do you think your family would welcome a Muslim wife for you?
Toba: It’s going to be 50/50, but if she is able to convince them especially my mum with good character, I guess she is going to have their support 100%. The fear of every family is how to get their ward a good companion that both would last till death.

Me: Do you think your type of thinking should be more of the norm in Nigeria or should differences in religion be considered above other things so that one can avoid conflict in the future?
Toba: I still think we are entitled to our respective opinions BUT those of that claim to be theists should be tolerant with each other and learn to inter-marry. Come to think of it, is God wrong to have created us separately in the same world? If the answer is No, then we should live as one and unite in all things if possible.

Me: Is there any other thing you would like to tell our readers?
Toba: I am a Christian and a strong believer in God, holiness and mutual respect. We should put God first in all things, learn to love and tolerate each other and we should always do things as if we would die tomorrow and then face God to give account of all our actions in thoughts and in words

Me: Thank you for talking to me. It has been a great pleasure and you have been a great sport.

Nigeria's Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala Wants To Get To Know Me Better

Nigeria's Minister of finance just tweeted this to her followers on twitter:

Help me to get to know YOU better by filling this short survey. Thanks! http://www.surveyshare.com/s/AQA4YID Ignore if you've already done so.

Don't I feel important already? Well if you would like the Minister to know more about you, you will need to follow her on twitter. You can do so by Visiting http://twitter.com/NOkonjoIweala or searching for @NOkonjoIweala and then clicking on follow.