The Regulator and the Regulated: An Examination of the Legal Framework for Telecommunication in Nigeria

The prime objective of any technological revolution is to improve the quality of human life.  This can be achieved by successfully assimilating these technological innovations into human society. Technological development in the information and communication technology has found its way into modern human societies for good. However in order to take the full advantage and benefits of this system there is the need to put in place a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework to engender the growth and development of the industry. This paper sets out to examine the legal and regulatory framework surrounding the business of telecom industry in Nigeria. It particularly scrutinizes the provision of the law establishing the National regulator vis a vis the service providers and the consumers of this telecom services. Such laws as the company Act, Nigeria communication Act, Criminal law, law of tort, planning Laws, Land Use act and other regulations tangential to the provision of telecom services in the country. In examining these laws the paper seeks to identify the lacunas, drawbacks and limitations existing in these regulations and proceeds to advance reform and recommendations towards the efficient administration and implementation of telecom laws in Nigeria in the overall benefit of the telecom business in Nigeria

The land use act and land administration in 21st century Nigeria: need for reforms

Land administration is important in the sustainable use and management of land. Despite its importance, however, the administrative structure under the Nigerian Land Use Act is inconsistent and devoid of clarity of functions and purpose. This article examines the administrative structure under the Land Use Act, focusing on its effectiveness in light of the general principles and policy that motivated the promulgation of the Act. Given the observed lacuna and inconsistency in the administration of the Act, the article calls for legislative intervention to review its provisions. It also recommends a uniform right of occupancy regime, single administrative structure for land administration in the country, and a repeal of the governor’s adjudicatory powers in the Act.Keywords: Land, Land Administration, Right of Occupancy, Constitution, Reform

Conceptualizing Zoning Within The Lagos Megacity Project: A Prognosis*

The paper examines the concept of zoning within the larger corpus of planning law and regulation within the megacity status of Lagos and evaluates its rationale, desirability, effectiveness, efficiency and drawbacks in a changing urban environment. In particular, it examines the role and place of zoning in sustainable development of the environment and the health of man in a megacity and its challenges. Keywords: Planning, Zoning, Megacity, Land Use

The Land Use Act and equity factor in property taxation in Nigeria

Statehood imposes responsibilities on the government to provide security and welfare for its citizens. To meet these societal obligations, the state demand contributions from citizens in the form of taxation, based on some normative principles and acceptable standards. Taxes are imposed on persons and properties to defray the cost of governance amongst other uses. Property tax is one of the major sources of government revenue and includes taxes on real property. In Nigeria, the Land Use Act imposes tax on landowners/users, outside other legislations levying taxes on real properties. Given the foregoing, the paper examines the provisions of the Land Use Act on property tax in line with normative principles for levying tax, particularly the equity factor in taxation. The paper interrogates the powers of the governor to impose rents, review rents, and enforce payment of rents under the Act. It also discusses the implications of the administrative structure and penalties for non-payment of rents under the Act. Using a doctrinal research methodology, the paper finds the provisions of Land Use Act on property taxation as unrepresentative, draconian, inequitable and unjust. The Act gives the governor unfettered discretion in tax management, provides harsh and inequitable penalties on tax defaulters, does not provide any tax adjudicatory system and fails to capture the whole taxable properties within the tax net, amongst others. The paper recommends a review of the tax policy under the Act to capture all taxable properties, ameliorate the harsh tax penalties, provide a tax appeal system and curtail the unfettered discretion of the governor under the Act.Keywords: Taxation, Property Tax, Land Use Act, Tax penalty, Tax Administratio

Fundamental Right to Property and Right to Housing in Nigeria: a Discourse

Housing is one of the basic needs of human kind. Given its quintessential relevance to the overall development of man and the State; the question is posed: whether there is a right to adequate housing in the citizen to warrant a demand from the State to fulfill this right; and whether there should be such a right?  This paper sets out to examine the concept of Right as it relates to housing and enters into a discourse as to whether there is a fundamental right to housing under Nigeria law. A corollary to the above is to answer the question whether such a right should be cognizable under Nigerian law. In a doctrinal research approach, the paper concedes that housing is a prerequisite to optimal utility of man and the state. Unfortunately, right to housing does not enjoy the same ranking with civil and political rights for obvious reasons enunciated in the paper. The implication is that there is no enforceable right to housing under our law. Notwithstanding, the paper posits that it is desirable for the State to create an enabling environment for the realization of this right because of its multiplier effect on the individual and the State

Gynecological malignancies in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano: A 3 year review

Objective: To study the pattern of gynecological malignancies in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective observational study carried out in the Gynecology Department of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano, Nigeria between October 2008 and September 2011. Casenotes of all patients seen with gynecological cancers were studied to determine the pattern, age and parity distribution.Results: A total of 2339 women were seen during the study period, while 249 were found to have gynecological malignancy. Therefore the proportion of gynecological malignancies was 10.7%. Out of the 249 patients with gynecological malignancies, most (48.6%) had cervical cancer, followed by ovarian cancer (30.5%), endometrial cancer (11.25%) and the least was choriocarcinoma (9.24%). The mean age for cervical carcinoma patients (46.25 ± 4.99 years) was higher than that of choriocarcinoma (29 ± 14.5 years) but lower than ovarian (57 ± 4.5years)and endometrial (62.4 ± 8.3 years) cancers. However, the mean parity for cervical cancer (7.0 ± 3) was higher than those of ovarian cancer (3 ± 3), choriocarcinoma (3.5 ± 4) and endometrial cancer (4 ± 3). The mean age at menarche for women with cervical cancer (14.5 ± 0.71 years) was lower than for those with choriocarcinoma (15 ± 0 years), ovarian (15.5 ± 2.1 years) and endometrial (16 ± 0 years) cancers. There was one case of vulva cancer and none with vaginal cancer.Conclusion: Cervical cancer was the most frequent malignant tumor and the least was choriocarcinoma. Estimates of this important public health problem need to be addressed in various regions of Nigeria.Key words: Cancers, gynecological, nigeria, north-west, pattern, tertiary hospita

Premature rupture of membranes (PROM)

This issue of eMedRef provides information to clinicians on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapeutics of premature rupture of membranes

Physician Migration from Nigeria: A Look at the Influential Factors and Suggested Policy Options

Physician migration from Nigeria is a concerning trend in a country already experiencing critically low physician numbers and extremely poor health. It is a significant financial loss to the country and a drain of innovative minds that can positively contribute to a faltering health system. An online survey of Nigerian physicians in living in Nigeria was conducted to determine which factors they consider to be most influential in their decision to migrate. The survey findings reveal that Nigerian physicians consider inadequate working and living conditions, inadequate income, insufficient opportunities for advanced and specialty training for career advancement to be the major contributing factors for migration. A country specific strategy addressing these problems within the country will most likely help to improve quality of life and work satisfaction among Nigerian physicians and mitigate migration.Master of Public Healt

Knowledge and utilization of malaria preventive measures among pregnant women at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria’s federal capital territory

Objective: To determine the knowledge and utilization of malaria preventive measures as well as barriers to the utilization of these measures by pregnant women.Materials and Methods: The study was a prospective cross-sectional survey involving pregnant women at the booking clinic of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital between May and August 2010. Close-ended pre-tested structured questionnaires were administered by interviewer method to 403 consecutive consenting women.Results: The knowledge of malaria and its preventive measures in pregnancy was 71.5%. There was a statistically significant association between knowledge of malaria and educational status (X2 = 16.053, P = 0.035). Intermittent preventive treatment was used by 15.9% of the respondents. Insecticide-treated net ownership was 42.6%; however,its use declined from 28.5% before pregnancy to 24.6% during pregnancy.Conclusion: There is adequate knowledge about malaria and its preventive measures in pregnancy, but the utilization of these measures is poor. There is need for concerted efforts at addressing the barriers to utilization of these effective interventions.Key words: Knowledge, malaria in pregnancy, Nigeria, preventio