LIRON Legal Consult

09/10/2026

The National Environmental Health Practice Regulations, 2024 (S.I. No. 72 of 2024) provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for environmental health practice and service delivery in Nigeria. The Regulations establish standards, requirements and procedures applicable to environmental health practitioners, environmental health service providers, businesses, institutions and other persons whose activities fall within the scope of environmental health regulation. It repeals the National Environmental Health Practice Regulation 2016.

The National Environmental Health Practice Regulations, 2024 are made pursuant to the Environmental Health Officers (Registration, etc.) Act 2002. The Regulations cover a broad range of environmental and public-health matters, including sanitation and premises, food hygiene and safety, solid and liquid waste management, healthcare waste, waste collection and disposal facilities, cleaning and laundry services, sanitary inspection, health and safety, environmental health impact assessment, public health pest and vector management, decontamination, antimicrobial resistance, air quality, noise and pollution control. They also provide for the registration, licensing, certification, inspection and monitoring of regulated environmental health services and practitioners.

A particularly important aspect of the Regulations is the establishment of operational standards and compliance requirements for regulated services. They address matters such as permits, record keeping, inspection of premises, certification, professional responsibilities, waste-management requirements, environmental health assessments and the conditions under which specified services may be provided.

The National Environmental Health Practice Regulations, 2024 are supported by seventeen schedules, containing prescribed certificates and forms, waste classification and colour codes, classes of waste collection and disposal licences, requirements for registration as a cleaning service provider, lists of regulated and banned chemicals, and other technical and administrative requirements relevant to environmental health practice.

The Regulations therefore serve as an important legal and regulatory reference for environmental health practitioners, government authorities, local governments, businesses, healthcare institutions, food establishments, waste-management operators, cleaning-service providers, industrial establishments and other regulated entities.

The National Environmental Health Practice Regulations, 2024

23/09/2026

MOTHER OR FATHER — WHO SHOULD GET CUSTODY OF THE CHILD?

“Counsel, the child is a girl. Surely the court will give her to the mother?”

Another client once said to me:

“Lawyer, my son is a boy, so his father should automatically have custody when he reaches a certain age, abi?”

Not necessarily.

One of the common misconceptions in family law is that there is a particular age when a child automatically belongs with the mother or the father.

In Lagos State, there is no simple rule that says a child must live with the mother because the child is young, or with the father because the child is a boy.

The overriding consideration is the welfare and best interests of the child.

Imagine a couple who separate when their daughter is only 3 years old.

The mother says:

“She is a girl and still very young. She belongs with me.”

The father responds:

“I am her father. I have a stable home, I can provide for her education, healthcare and other needs. I want custody.”

Who wins?

The answer is not determined simply by the fact that the child is a girl or that she is only 3 years old.

The court will look at the circumstances of the particular child.

Who has been taking care of the child?

What kind of home can each parent provide?

Is the child properly cared for?

Are there concerns about neglect, abuse or abandonment?

What is the relationship between the child and each parent?

Can the parent with custody encourage the child’s relationship with the other parent?

And as the child grows older and becomes capable of expressing a meaningful preference, the child’s wishes may also become relevant.

WHAT ABOUT A VERY YOUNG CHILD?

Age can certainly be relevant.

For example, the circumstances surrounding an infant, particularly a breastfeeding baby, may be very different from those surrounding a teenager.

But age does not create an automatic entitlement to the mother.

Likewise, being a boy does not automatically give the father custody.

The court’s ultimate concern is the welfare and best interests of that particular child.

WHAT ABOUT THE FATHER?

A father can apply for custody of his child, even where the child is very young.

Similarly, a mother can apply for custody of a son.

The court is not simply asking:

“Is the applicant the father or the mother?”

The more important question is:

“What arrangement is in the best interests and welfare of this child?”

And there is another important point:

Custody is not the same thing as parental responsibility or access.

A parent who does not have physical custody may still have substantial rights of access and involvement in the child’s life.

So, before assuming that:

“The child is a girl, therefore the mother must get custody,”

or

“The child is a boy, therefore the father must get custody,”

remember that family law is more concerned with the welfare of the child than assumptions based solely on gender.

📌 LEGAL TAKEAWAY:

In Lagos State, custody disputes are determined according to the circumstances of the case, with the welfare and best interests of the child being central considerations.

Gender alone does not determine custody. Age alone does not determine custody.

Every child deserves an arrangement that protects their welfare, stability, development and relationship with both parents, where appropriate.

Have you ever wondered whether a father can obtain custody of a very young child?

Drop your question in the comments.

This content is for general legal education and does not constitute legal advice on any particular case.

14/09/2026

Can a foreign company carry on business in Nigeria without first being incorporated here?

What happens when a foreign company enters into a contract to carry on business in Nigeria but has not complied with the statutory requirement to incorporate in Nigeria?

This question was at the centre of Citec International Estates Ltd. v. Edicomisa International Inc. & Associates, a decision of the Supreme Court.

The respondent, a company incorporated in the United States, was engaged by the appellant in connection with a major housing project in Abuja.
The arrangement involved consultancy, engineering and construction work, including the construction of factories for the production of building materials.

The appellant later challenged the enforceability of the agreements on the ground that the respondent was a foreign company carrying on business in Nigeria without being incorporated in accordance with the Companies and Allied Matters Act.

The Court held that under sections 54 and 55 of CAMA, a foreign company intending to carry on business in Nigeria must first take the necessary steps to obtain incorporation in Nigeria, subject to the statutory exceptions.

More importantly, the Court held that an act carried out in contravention of section 54(1) is void, while section 55 makes the non-compliance an offence.
The consequence was that the agreements in question were illegal and void ab initio.

The Court also made an important distinction between the capacity of a foreign company to sue or be sued and its ability to enforce an illegal contract.
Section 60 of CAMA permits a foreign company to sue or be sued in Nigeria. However, that provision does not give a foreign company the right to enforce a contract which the law itself declares illegal and void.

Legal capacity to sue is not the same thing as having an enforceable contractual right.

A foreign company may have the capacity to appear before a Nigerian court, yet still be unable to enforce a transaction entered into in breach of the statutory requirements governing its business activities in Nigeria.

For businesses dealing with foreign entities, this is an important compliance issue that should be considered before the transaction is concluded and not after a dispute arises.

Citec International Estates Ltd. v. Edicomisa International Inc. & Associates (2018) 3 NWLR (Pt. 333) 343.

22/07/2026

We proffer expert solutions in Business Litigation, contract disputes and mediation.

22/07/2026

IF SOMEONE ĎÌȧ IN YOUR HOUSE, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
Imagine Someone visits your home, spends the night, and the next morning you discover they have ďìèď.
Your first reaction may be fèàr, but do not panic or make costly mistakes.
DON'T do the following:
Run away from the house.
Move or hide the body.
Clean the room or ďèstŕòý anything.
Rearrange items at the scene.
Lìè or make up stories to explain what happened.
These actions can interfere with investigations and may unnecessarily make you a śùspect.
INSTEAD DO THESE IMMEDIATELY:
Continue in comment section.

17/07/2026

Five Clauses Every Borrower Should Read Before Signing a Loan Agreement

Signing a loan agreement without reading the fine print can expose a borrower to unexpected financial and legal consequences. Before appending your signature, pay close attention to these five critical clauses:

1. Interest Rate Clause

This clause specifies the interest payable on the loan, whether it is fixed or variable, and how it will be calculated. Ensure you understand the applicable rate, any default interest, and whether the lender can change the rate during the loan term.

2. Repayment Terms

Carefully review the repayment schedule, including the amount of each installment, due dates, payment method, and the duration of the loan. Confirm that the repayment plan is realistic and affordable to avoid default.

3. Default and Penalty Clause

This clause outlines what constitutes a default and the consequences of failing to meet your obligations. It may include late payment charges, increased interest rates, acceleration of the loan, legal action, or enforcement against collateral. Understand these consequences before signing.

4. Security (Collateral) Clause

If the loan is secured, this provision identifies the asset pledged as collateral and the lender’s rights if you default. Never pledge property unless you fully understand the circumstances under which the lender may take possession or sell it.

5. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law Clause

This clause explains how disputes will be resolved—whether through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or litigation—and identifies the law governing the agreement. Knowing your legal rights and the applicable jurisdiction can save time and costs if a dispute arises.

Final Thoughts

A loan agreement is a legally binding contract. Never sign any document simply because you need the money urgently. Read every clause carefully, ask questions where necessary, and seek independent legal advice before committing to any loan.

Remember: The safest loan is one whose terms you fully understand before you sign.
Be informed. Be protected.
Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

17/07/2026

Bros to Bros, The Law.
What are the benefits of court marriage (statutory marriage) to a man in Nigeria?

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