2Mekus: May God neva let this man rule Nigeria. He wl become worse than Abacha. Why must all his declarations be with unbridled threat. Does Lagos belong to his Father? DESPOT.

pro01:

Not so fast bros. Not anything can be criminalised, especially not in a democracy. The exercise of fundamental rights, within prescribed boundaries, for instance, cannot be criminalised - moreso as it is guaranteed by the constitution.

In any case, the constituion, as I'm very sure you know, is the grundnorm, which is superior to all other laws in the land. Since the constitution guarantees my personal liberty and freedom, I can argue that any law by a state government criminalising my refusal to 'decorate' my private residence is a negation of the constitution and is therefore null to the extent of it's inconsistency with the latter.

I think it's incorrect to suggest that anything is 'legal' simply because it has been passed into law. There is such a thing as an illegal law, and precedents/examples abound. If anyone has the time and resources to challenge this 'beautification' aspect of the new law, I reckon it would be easy to convince the courts that it violates constitutional provisions and is therefore unconstitutional. Fashola ought to know this. . .which I why I had to wonder how 'learned' he really is.

pro01:

Not so fast bros. Not anything can be criminalised, especially not in a democracy. The exercise of fundamental rights, within prescribed boundaries, for instance, cannot be criminalised - moreso as it is guaranteed by the constitution.

In any case, the constituion, as I'm very sure you know, is the grundnorm, which is superior to all other laws in the land. Since the constitution guarantees my personal liberty and freedom, I can argue that any law by a state government criminalising my refusal to 'decorate' my private residence is a negation of the constitution and is therefore null to the extent of it's inconsistency with the latter.

I think it's incorrect to suggest that anything is 'legal' simply because it has been passed into law. There is such a thing as an illegal law, and precedents/examples abound. If anyone has the time and resources to challenge this 'beautification' aspect of the new law, I reckon it would be easy to convince the courts that it violates constitutional provisions and is therefore unconstitutional. Fashola ought to know this. . .which I why I had to wonder how 'learned' he really is.

Gbawe: I understand what has motivated Fashola to make this law. Many parts of Lagos are embarrassing eyesores because Private home owners are not interested in fulfilling their unspoken social contract of maintaining the looks of their homes as part of contribution to a beautiful environment.

Nonetheless, from a realistic perspective, this will be very difficult to enforce. Lagosians, in my experience, deem well-kept homes low on the list of priority of what to do with money. That attitude won't change overnight but I wish Fashola luck.

This is one of those situation where one appreciates the position of both sides. Fashola wants a City that looks the best it can and Lagosians , contending with hideous overpopulation and paucity of funds, simply place home improvement very low on their list of things to do with money.

Ask to help Lagosian relative, and I have done it several times, improve their rented homes and they will flatly refuse. "Instead of upgrading someone elses house, give me the money for my pressing needs" is the response you will get. Most Landlords will never renovate with their own funds either. Ditto for even private home owners. Gridlock. The result is a City that looks like crap because folks, on all side of the fence, don't care. Good luck Governor Fashola. This is one of your policies I believe will be unsuccessful because it is ahead of its time economically and attitudinally. Yet I hope I am wrong because you are one of Nigeria's most effective leaders.

dammytosh: What a draconic law ? Although i won't be surprised if some people commend it because they never see anything wrong with anything ACN from the Obama Lies to 1billion per KM road to mention a few.


I think the new rule is , if you want to act silly and go uncriticized, join ACN.

pro01:

Not so fast bros. Not anything can be criminalised, especially not in a democracy. The exercise of fundamental rights, within prescribed boundaries, for instance, cannot be criminalised - moreso as it is guaranteed by the constitution.

In any case, the constituion, as I'm very sure you know, is the grundnorm, which is superior to all other laws in the land. Since the constitution guarantees my personal liberty and freedom, I can argue that any law by a state government criminalising my refusal to 'decorate' my private residence is a negation of the constitution and is therefore null to the extent of it's inconsistency with the latter.

I think it's incorrect to suggest that anything is 'legal' simply because it has been passed into law. There is such a thing as an illegal law, and precedents/examples abound. If anyone has the time and resources to challenge this 'beautification' aspect of the new law, I reckon it would be easy to convince the courts that it violates constitutional provisions and is therefore unconstitutional. Fashola ought to know this. . .which I why I had to wonder how 'learned' he really is.

dabossman:

Oh, I do agree with you on many points. But the question is did Fashola and his government follow the constitutional regulations before these laws were passed? If yes, then by all means let those in opposition fight it through legal means. There are several sides to the law and interpretation is key. How does that make the man not learned? He has used legal means within the constitution and not arbitrary decrees. If the courts rule in his favour, flout those laws and see if you can pass it off as a violation of your constitutional rights, then as your neighbour I will tell you that your ugly, rodent infested building is an eye sore and an infrigement of my own constitutional rights.

Landlord bags 3 months jail term for failure to renovate house

A landlord, Adebola Mabinuori, was on Thursday sentenced to three months’ imprisonment by a Customary Court in Mushin, Lagos, for failing to put his house in proper habitable condition.

Mabinuori was however, given an option of N20,000 fine.

The prosecuting counsel for Mushin Local Government, Miss Oluwatayo Daramola, told the court that the house, located at No. 56, Ola St., Itire, was in a terrible condition.

According to Daramola, the landlord has an illegal school within the premises.

“There is a school being illegally operated in the house. Many children are packed together in one shop being used as a classroom.

“The shop has been extended with the use of wooden planks. There is no proper ventilation in the shop. The children could suffocate.

“The school children do not even have a toilet they can use. They defecate in the bush,” Daramola said, stressing that the house lacked hygienic sanitary facilities that the tenants could use.

“The house is in a bad state. There are no proper bathrooms and toilets. All the fourteen tenants residing in the house share one toilet which is not properly maintained.This could lead to an outbreak of cholera,’ she said.


Daramola told the court that Mabinuori failed to repair the dilapidated and cracked walls of the house despite a court injunction to do so.

“ The walls of the house are beginning to cave in and the roofing sheets are defective. The landlord has refused to do anything about it.There are so many people living in that house and their lives are in danger, if the house is not renovated soon, “ the prosecutor explained.

She stated that the offence was punishable under Section 7 of the Lagos State Environmental Laws, 2011.

Mabinuori pleaded guilty and said that he was constrained to renovate the house due to the continued stay of his tenants.

“I have given the tenants quit notices but they refused to leave. It is dangerous to carry out renovations when they are still in the house,” he said.

Meanwhile, the proprietress of the school, Mrs Grace Onwunan, apologised to the court for running the school without being certified by the state government.

She said she only wanted to earn a living from owning a crèche to take care of her children.

“My husband abandoned me five years ago. The school is my only means of survival. I started as a crèche but we now have pupils from primary one to four,” she said.

The court president, Dr Abayomi Ipaye, blamed the landlord for allowing the house to depreciate to its current state, and advised the proprietress of the school to desist from running the illegal facility or face sanctions from the government.

Ipaye ordered the landlord to renovate the house before July 13 or it would be sealed up.

pretty_boi:

With all due respect, you're the dullest Nigerian I know.

Tokotaya: If you give beggars money, you are going to jail. If you jump the red light, you are going to jail. If you ride okada on major roads, you are going to jail. If you drive against traffic, you are going to jail etc. Fashola repeat after me: 'Enacting a law does not make a problem go away.' Roll up your sleeves, muster enough political will and mobilise your lieutenants to enforce reasonable law consistently. That is the secret.

coded guy: Fashola has no right to tell people to beautify their sorroundings, besides beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. How does he know what people consider as beautiful. He only has a right to tell residents to make sure their environment and premises are clean and tidy, abi the beautification and cleanliness now havethe same meaning?

If I have a plain wall in front of my house and it is kept clean, then that's how I want it, but with this law some scroungy official will expect me draw some designs on the wall, thus fulfilling this obnoxious law.

I owe the state cleanliness not beautification as they want to see it.

thelastPope:

Lol. I can categorically tell you that Fashola will not last 3 months as president of Nigeria. It is because he has never really faced any heat from Lagos residents. The last time he faced a little heat from doctors, he bungled it and had to swallow his vomit. Nigeria will swallow him head first. Just imagine what peeps in sokoto, kd, owerri or zamfara will think of such commands. There is something called reorientation and its something that takes time but can work. Issuing commands in a democracy is laughable. It will only work in an environment where people are timid. Telling people who are on an 18k minimum wage to beautify their environment or go to jail or pay 250k fine is just a big joke.

GboyegaD: Fashola exhibits greater stupidity of late. He comes up with dictates and threats of fines and jail terms. If he is looking for ways to generate more funds to loot must he resort to some cheap means of exthortion? I am waiting to see how this unfolds and to those who keep applauding him over his stupidity, I wouldn't blame you because there isn't any difference between you and him in reasoning.

coded guy: Fashola has no right to tell people to beautify their sorroundings, besides beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. How does he know what people consider as beautiful. He only has a right to tell residents to make sure their environment and premises are clean and tidy, abi the beautification and cleanliness now havethe same meaning?

If I have a plain wall in front of my house and it is kept clean, then that's how I want it, but with this law some scroungy official will expect me draw some designs on the wall, thus fulfilling this obnoxious law.

I owe the state cleanliness not beautification as they want to see it.

fresh_dude: Good intention, bad policy.

fresh_dude: Good intention, bad policy.

bashr8: landlords should be held responsible , it is their responsibility to renovate the houses they rent out and make sure the tenents keep the surroundings clean . the govt sounds harsh but imo and enugu did the same thing even cross rivers years ago but they didnt threaten people with jail term and large fine. also as long as lagos remains over populated ,keeping it clean will almost be impossible.