Addressing antimicrobial resistance in Nigerian hospitals : exploring physicians prescribing behavior, knowledge, and perception of antimicrobial resistance and stewardship programs

Introduction: We assessed the knowledge of, attitude toward antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and practice of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) among physicians in Nigeria to provide future guidance to the Nigerian National Action Plan for AMR. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study explored the physicians’ self-reported practice of antibiotic prescribing, knowledge, attitude, and practice of AMR and components of ASPs. Results: The majority (217; 67.2%) of respondents prescribed antibiotics daily in their clinical practice AMR was recognized as a global and local problem by 308 (95.4%) and 262 (81.1%) respondents, respectively. Only 91 (28.2%) of respondents have ever heard of antibiotic stewardship. The median AMR knowledge score was 40 (19–45)out of 45while that for ASP was 46.0(32–57) out of 60. There was significant statistical difference between the ASP median scores among the medical specialties category (P value <0.0001) More respondents had good knowledge of AMR than ASPs (82.7% versus 36.5%; p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Respondents in this study were more knowledgeable about AMR than AMS and its core components

Impediments to Human Rights Protection in Nigeria

The promotion and protection of human rights have engaged the attention of the world community, and though the African country of Nigeria has subscribed to major international human rights instruments, violations continue to occur with disturbing frequency and regularity in that nation. Why is this so? This article examines the multifarious and multidimensional impediments which have hamstrung meaningful enjoyment of human rights in Nigeria. It points out the shortcomings of the dualist model under the Nigerian Constitution and stresses the objectionable wide amplitude of the derogation clauses. It also makes suggestions for reform. Cite as: 18 Annl. Survey Int\u27l. Comp. L. 67 (2012)

Antimicrobial resistance pattern of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from sheep and humans in Veterinary Hospital Maiduguri, Nigeria

BACKGROUND AND AIM : Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an important opportunistic pathogen, is a Gram-positive coccus known to be resistant to β-lactam antibiotics. Its virulence depends on a large range of factors, mainly extracellular proteins, such as enzymes and exotoxins, that contribute to causing a wide range of diseases in human and animal species. The major reasons for the success of this pathogen are its great variability, which enables it to occur and thrive at different periods and places with diverse clonal types and antibiotic resistance patterns within regions and countries. Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant S. aureus bring about serious problems in the general population (humans and animals). Infections with these pathogens can be devastating, particularly for the very young, adults and immunocompromised patients in both humans and animals. This study aimed to determine the presence of MRSA in both apparently healthy and sick sheep brought to the veterinary hospital as well as veterinary staff and students on clinical attachment in the hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS : A total of 200 nasal swab samples were collected aseptically from sheep and humans (100 each) for the isolation of MRSA. The samples were processed by appropriately transporting them to the laboratory, then propagated in nutrient broth at 37°C for 24 h followed by subculturing on mannitol salt agar at 37°C for 24 h, to identify S. aureus. This was followed by biochemical tests (catalase and coagulase tests) and Gram staining. MRSA was isolated using Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guideline and confirmed by plating onto Oxacillin (OX) Resistance Screening Agar Base agar. The antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the MRSA isolates was determined using the disk diffusion method against 12 commonly used antimicrobial agents. RESULTS : The total rate of nasal carriage of S. aureus and MRSA was found to be 51% and 43% in sheep and humans, respectively. The MRSA prevalence in male and female sheep was 18% and 8%, while 9% and 8% were for male and female human samples, respectively. The antimicrobial susceptibility test showed 100% resistance to OX, cefoxitin, oxytetracycline, cephazolin, and penicillin-G (Pen) by MRSA isolates from humans. Conversely, there was 100% susceptibility to ciprofloxacin, imipenem, and gentamicin; for linezolid (LZD), it was 87.5%, norfloxacin (NOR) (71%), and erythromycin (ERY) (50%) susceptibility was recorded. The MRSA isolates from sheep recorded 100% resistance to the same set of drugs used for human MRSA isolates and were equally 100% susceptible to gentamicin, imipenem, LZD, ciprofloxacin, NOR (92%), and ERY (50%). CONCLUSION : This study determined the presence of MRSA in sheep and humans from the Veterinary Hospital, Maiduguri. It appears that certain drugs such as ciprofloxacin, imipenem, and gentamicin will continue to remain effective against MRSA associated with humans and sheep. Reasons for the observed patterns of resistance must be explored to reduce the burdens of MRSA resistance. Furthermore, the present study did not confirm the MRSA resistance genes such as mecA and spa typing to ascertain the polymorphism in the X-region using appropriate molecular techniques. Hence more studies need to be conducted to elucidate these findings using robust techniques.http://www.veterinaryworld.orgam2023Production Animal StudiesVeterinary Tropical Disease

Boko Haram, the Islamic State, and the Surge in Female Abductions in Southeastern Niger

This paper uses a gendered analysis, alongside original data, to explore an increase in abductions of Muslim women and girls in southeastern Niger between March 2019 and the end of April 2020, and what this indicates about jihadist factional dynamics. These abductions occurred in operational areas historically associated with Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which is loyal to Islamic State. Yet, ISWAP condemns its rival faction, Abubakar Shekau-led Boko Haram (Jamaat Ahlus Sunnah Li-Dawa wal-Jihad), for that faction’s abduction and self-described enslavement of Muslim women. As such the abductions are an anomaly. The piece, therefore, considers three alternative possible reasons for the surge of abductions in southeastern Niger during this period. These are: the rise of a new Abubakar Shekau-loyal Boko Haram sub-faction operating in ISWAP’s historical areas of operations in southeastern Niger and around Lake Chad, led by the jihadist commander Bakura; leadership changes in ISWAP beginning in March 2019 that resulted in an ideological shift toward more ‘Shekau-like’ operations; and command-and-control issues, with ISWAP members engaging in abductions without leadership sanction. The paper argues that the new data, alongside a gender analysis of the ideological positions of the jihadist groups in the Lake Chad Basin Area, suggests the emergence of the new Bakura sub-faction contributed most to the increase in abductions of Muslim in southeastern Niger. The finding has implications for understanding the jihadist actors in the region, studying how gender functions in factionalisation, and developing a gendered policy to counter Boko Haram and a counter-terrorism strategy for member-states of the Lake Chad-based Multinational Joint Task Force

Women’s Experiences in Peace Building Processes: A Phenomenological Study of Undeterred Female Leaders in Northern Nigeria

Women living in northern Nigeria face a herculean challenge of overcoming direct and indirect violence. These include domestic violence, political instability, social inequality, and the threat of Boko Haram. Boko Haram is an extremist militant group that has been known to kidnap, rape, and torture women and young girls as means of terrorizing the Nigerian community. Northern Nigerian women have also faced challenges within their own community as they are barred from participating in public activities, are under-represented in government, forced into early marriages, and are often victims of domestic violence. This study examines the lived experiences of women peacebuilders living in northern Nigeria as they negotiate regional conflicts and manage the peacebuilding process. Seven northern Nigerian females between the ages of 30 to 60 were recruited to participate in this study. All came from diverse backgrounds but shared a commonality of peace building and conflict management within their respective communities. The goal of this study was to better understand the meaning of these experiences and to uncover how these women handle these daily challenges. Feminist standpoint and structural violence theories provide the theoretical framework to dissect the essence of their experiences. The study adopted Clark Moustaka’s approach towards conducting transcendental phenomenological research methods and procedure. The results of the study will inform project design and policy formulation and serve as a source for future research and interventions by development agencies and other stakeholders interested in peace within the region

Tracing Sexual Violence in Conflict as a Continuum of Violence Against Women and Girls in Northern Nigeria: Pitfalls of Law and Policies

Sexual violence is a human rights infringement that causes harm in the lives of individuals when committed and may lead to severe complications, disabilities or even death. In Nigeria, women suffer from a chain of violence which is traced from regular times to post-conflict situations in addition to other social problems like gender discrimination, gender inequality, to name but a few. As a result, this work focuses on the experiences of Nigerian women with sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict settings in Northern Nigeria, especially with the abductions of girls in Borno and Yobe States between 2014 and 2018. This research approaches the problem through desk research using the socio-legal methodology, which draws insights from the interdisciplinary lens of human rights law, international security, and women/development using post-colonial feminist theory. The primary question this work poses is how the Nigerian National Action Plans (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) can be utilized to help end the conflict-related sexual violence continuum in Nigeria and advance the protection of women against sexual violence? The research finds that there are insufficient policy guidelines and legal frameworks for the prevention or eradication of sexual violence in Nigeria, and where policy guidelines or frameworks exist, there has been poor or no implementation

Analisis Peran International Labour Organization (Ilo) Dalam Penanganan Masalah Child Labour Di Nigeria Tahun 2009-2014

Fenomena buruh anak merupakan salah satu hal yang jarang tereskpos dalam kehidupan sosial bermasyarakat. Akan tetapi fenomena ini sangat banyak terjadi dan bahkan cenderung dianggap wajar, terutama di negara berkembang seperti misalnya di Nigeria. Nigeria merupakan salah satu negara dengan angka buruh anak yang cukup tinggi. Kondisi ini disebabkan karena tingginya angka kemiskinan dan juga kurang meratanya persebaran pendidikan di Nigeria. Meluasnya fenomena buruh anak di negara ini, menjadikan buruh anak sebagai hal yang wajar di tengah masyarakat Nigeria, yang mana hal ini bertentangan dengan Konvensi ILO di bidang ketenagakerjaan. Anak merupakan individu yang tidak diijinkan untuk bekerja. Hal ini sudah tercantum dalam Konvensi Hak Anak PBB tahun 1989. Dalam penanganan masalah buruh anak, Nigeria dirasa belum mampu menanganinya sendiri, sehingga membutuhkan ILO dalam penanganan masalah buruh anak ini. Dalam hal buruh anak, ILO dan Nigeria sudah bekerja sama sejak tahun 2002 melalui program internasional ILO yang dinamakan International Programme on Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC). Melalui program ini, diharapkan dapat membantu Nigeria dalam penanganan masalah buruh anak di Nigeria serta menunjukka bahwa ILO sebagai organisasi internasional dapat berperan penting dalam permasalahan ketenagakerjaan yang terjadi di negara anggotanya

The legal framework of concession agreements in Nigerian ports

The thesis examines the legal framework for concession agreements in Nigerian ports. The principal question is whether the legal framework for concession in ports is adequate. In order to answer this question, a number of related questions are raised and answered by analysis of laws and proposed laws related to ports. One question relates to what laws regulate concession in Nigeria. The thesis submits that a number of laws governs concession, the principal one being the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Act (ICRCA).The Act provides that Federal Government agencies may grant the private sector concession for the financing, construction and maintenance of their infrastructure. In order to examine what this means for the port sector, the thesis examines how concession is being currently implemented in the ports. It is pointed out that under concession policy, a whole lot of operational duties which used to be carried out by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) were being transferred to private sector in the new port governance paradigm. For this purpose, the possession of key NPA assets such as terminals for handling cargos were being transferred to the private sector vide concession agreements. The official position is that provisions in the Nigeria Ports Authority Act (NPAA) which allow the NPA to grant leases provide justification for the concession agreement. The concession policy also appoints the Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) as the economic regulator of the ports to regulate economic activities such as tariff charged in the port. The thesis proceeds to examine the question whether port concession as it is being implemented is actually consistent with NPAA and other relevant laws. The thesis submits that stripping the NPA of a whole string of operational duties on the basis of concession is inconsistent with the provisions of NPAA which establishes the NPA as a regulator, operator and landlord of the port. The thesis posits that the ICRCA does not mandate the NPA to grant concession but rather leaves the decision to do so to the relevant government agencies such as the NPA. It is further submitted that the provision allowing the NPA to lease out its asset must be read with another provision restricting such leases to assets that are not necessary for the performance of NPA’s statutory duties. The thesis argues that this is based on the canon of statutory interpretation that one section of the law must be read holistically with the other sections. It is further argued that designation of NSC as economic regulator not only runs contrary to the Nigeria Shippers Council Act but also Utilities Charges Regulatory Commission Act (UCRCA) which regulates ports tariff and appoints UCRC as the relevant agency for this purpose. The thesis proceeds to examine the question whether the proposed laws, Nigeria Port and Harbour Authority Bill (NPHB) which establishes the port authority as the landlord cum regulator of port and the National Transport Commission Bill (NTCB) which establishes port economic regulator provide adequate legal provisions for port concession. The thesis posits that both bills legalize concession for the performance of core port functions by the private sector. However both contain some clauses that run contrary to the objectives stated therein. NPHB, for example, requires that the bill must be read in the context of the specific objective of separating landlord and regulatory duty from cargo-handling functions in the port. In contrast to this, the bill grants the NPA the duty to carry out port business and the powers to run cargo-handling business in addition to its landlord and regulatory functions. It is proposed that there should be a provision in the port bill providing a separate public company to compete with concessionaires for port businesses while the port authority concentrates on its technical regulatory and landlord duty that will allow it to enter into concession agreements as an independent entity. The thesis makes other proposals for the improvement of the aspects of the bills relating to port concession including inclusion of an outline of terms of concession agreement in the bill, public access to concession agreement, among others. It is recommended that the proposals are considered when the bills are passed into laws and concession agreements renegotiated on the basis of the bills when they become laws

Youth, Peace and Security: Die Einbeziehung der Jugend in die Sicherheitsagenda der Vereinten Nationen

Junge Menschen spielen eine lang unterschätzte Rolle für Frieden. Das Potenzial ihrer Einbeziehung in die UN-Sicherheitsagenda wurde erstmals 2015 offiziell durch die internationale Gemeinschaft anerkannt. Die UN-Sicherheitsratsresolution 2250 (2015) und Folgeresolutionen 2419 (2018) und 2535 (2020) bilden die Grundlage für die Agenda Jugend, Frieden und Sicherheit (Youth, Peace and Security, YPS). Diese Arbeit leistet einen umfassenden Beitrag zum Verständnis der normativen Grundlagen und Wirkungen der YPS-Agenda. Zunächst werden dafür die drei YPS-Resolutionen ausführlich analysiert. Die daran anschließende rechtliche Würdigung der YPS-Agenda untersucht das Narrativ junger Menschen als Friedensakteur:innen mit Schutzanspruch, eine mögliche Weiterentwicklung des Rechts auf politische Partizipation junger Menschen und inhaltliche Kritik, Chancen sowie Mechanismen der Institutionalisierung der Agenda. Abschließend werden die Auswirkungen der YPS-Agenda auf das UN-System und die UN-Sicherheitsarchitektur untersucht. Die Analyse erkennt die YPS-Agenda als einen Wendepunkt in Bezug auf die Stigmatisierung und den mangelnden Schutz junger Menschen. Die YPS-Resolutionen artikulieren die weitreichende Forderung nach effektiver Jugendpartizipation in Konfliktprävention, -lösung, humanitärer Arbeit, Friedensprozessen und politischen Strukturen und liefern dafür einen umfassenden Werkzeugkasten aus Situationen, Formen und Merkmalen von Beteiligung. Die YPS-Agenda stärkt damit nachhaltige, inklusive Friedensbemühungen und positioniert die Jugend schrittweise, aber dauerhaft in der UN-Sicherheitsagenda.Young people play a long underestimated role for peace. The potential of their inclusion in the UN security agenda was recognized by the international community officially in 2015. UN Security Council Resolution 2250 (2015) and follow-up resolutions 2419 (2018) and 2535 (2020) provide the foundation for the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda. This paper makes a comprehensive contribution to understanding the normative foundations, effects and implications of the YPS agenda. First, the three YPS resolutions are analyzed in detail. The subsequent legal assessment of the YPS agenda examines the narrative of young people as peace actors with a claim to protection, a possible further development of the right to political participation of young people, as well as content-related criticism, opportunities, and mechanisms of institutionalization of the agenda. Finally, the impact of the YPS agenda on the UN system and its security architecture is examined. The analysis portrays the YPS agenda as a turning point concerning the stigmatization and lack of protection of young people. The YPS resolutions articulate the broad call for effective youth participation in conflict prevention, resolution, humanitarian work, peace processes, and political structures more generally, and provide a comprehensive toolkit of situations, forms, and characteristics of participation for this purpose. The YPS agenda strengthens sustainable, inclusive peace efforts and progressively but permanently positions youth in the UN security agenda

The Human Right to Development in Nigeria

Thesis (LLD)--Stellenbosch University, 2016ENGLISH ABSTRACT : Africa is desperately in need of development. Several efforts have been employed to deal with underdevelopment issues with little or no successes. At all levels, efforts are being put in place to deal with poverty, hunger, malnutrition, disease and other issues that are connected to development. The situation is worrying and desperately in need of lasting solutions. It is in this regard that the right to development was conceived. The right to development is a right that seeks to make development a human right for all. It is a right that encompasses all categories of rights whether civil, political, economic, social or cultural. Thus, the right to development seeks to combine human rights and development together so that the individual and indeed all peoples may participate in, contribute to and enjoy development. The right to development is being supported at international and African regional levels. Although the right is enmeshed in ideological skirmishes between the developed countries of the world and developing ones, efforts to make it acceptable are still ongoing. Examples of such efforts include the Sustainable Development Goals, the Millennium Development Goals, and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development amongst others. Therefore, I examine the role of the right to development as a tool for genuine human development in Africa and specifically for Nigeria. I analyse the legal character of the right from an international, regional and domestic legal perspectives. In this dissertation, I argue that the right to development is a human right capable of enforcement in Nigeria. Its enforceability is found within the Nigerian legal system through international and domestic legal arrangements. In addition to international obligations, the constitution, other pieces of domestic legislation as well as the domesticated treaties strengthen the case for the enforceability of the right in Nigeria. Similarly the dissertation notes that aside from justiciability of the right before courts, good governance, legislative and development planning approaches can aid the effective realisation of this right. On the overall, I argue that, the right to development, if effectively implemented, has the potential of dealing with the myriad of development challenges faced in Nigeria and in Africa at large.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Afrika het ‘n desperate behoefte aan ontwikkeling. Verskeie pogings is reeds gemaak om kwessies van onderontwikkeling te hanteer, maar met min of geen sukses nie. Op all vlakke word pogings ingestel om kwessies soos armoede, honger, wanvoeding, siekte en ander wat met ontwikkeling te doen het, te hanteer. Die situasie is kommerwekkend en daar is ‘n desperate behoefte aan blywende oplossings. Dit is in hierdie opsig wat die reg op ontwikkeling tot stand gekom het. Die reg op ontwikkeling is ‘n reg wat poog om ontwikkeling ‘n mensereg vir almal te maak. Dit is ‘n reg wat al die kategorieë van regte insluit, hetsy burgerlike, politiese, sosiale of kulturele. Die reg op ontwikkeling poog dus om menseregte en ontwikkeling te kombineer sodat die individu, en trouens all mense, aan ontwikkeling mag deelneem, daartoe bydra en dit geniet. Die reg op ontwikkeling word internasionaal and op die streekvlak van Afrika ondersteun. Hoewel die reg vasgewikkel is in ideologiese skermutselings tussen die ontwikkelde lande van die wêreld and die ontwikkelende lande, is daar voortgesette pogings om dit aanvaarbaar te maak. Voorbeelde van sulke pogings sluit in die Volhoubare Ontwikkelingsdoelwitte (Sustainable Development Goals), die Millennium Ontwikkelingsdoelwitte, en die Nuwe Vennootskap vir die Ontwikkeling van Afrika (New Partnership for Africa’s Development). Ek ondersoek dus die rol van die reg op ontwikkeling as ‘n egte instrument vir werklike menslike ontwikkeling in Afrika, en veral in Nigerië. Ek analiseer die wetlike karakter van die reg vanuit internasionale, streeks- en binnelandse perspektiewe. In hierdie proefskrif argumenteer ek dat die reg op ontwikkeling ‘n mensereg is wat in Nigerië afgedwing kan word. Die afdwingbaarheid daarvan berus in die Nigeriese regstelsel op grond van internasionale en binnelandse wetlike skikkings. Benewens die internasionale verpligtinge, versterk die grondwet, ander stukke binnelandse wetgewing sowel as ingeburgerde verdrae die afdwingbaarheid van die reg in Nigerië. Eweneens wys die proefskrif daarop dat, buiten die beregbaarheid van die reg voor die howe, goeie bestuur en beheer and wetlike en ontwikkelingsbeplanningsbenaderings tot die doeltreffende totstandkoming van hierdie reg kan bydra. Oor die algemeen argumenteer ek dat indien die reg op ontwikkeling doeltreffend geïmplementeer word, dit die potensiaal het om te handel met die magdom ontwikkelingsuitdagings wat Nigerië, en Afrika oor die algemeen, in die gesig staar