Capital Flight and the Economic Growth: Evidence From Nigeria

This research examined the impact of capital flight and its determinants on the Nigerian economy using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to analyze data source from the period of 1981 to 2015. The variables included current account balance, capital flight, foreign direct investments, foreign reserve, inflation rate, external debt, and the real gross domestic product. It was to examine the existence of a long run relationship among the variables studied. The result indicates that capital flight has a negative impact on the economic growth of Nigeria. Therefore, there is a need for government to implement policies that will promote domestic investment and discourage capital flight from Nigeria

Refractive ocular conditions and reasons for spectacles renewal in a resource-limited economy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although a leading cause of visual impairment and a treatable cause of blindness globally, the pattern of refractive errors in many populations is unknown. This study determined the pattern of refractive ocular conditions, reasons for spectacles renewal and the effect of correction on refractive errors in a resource-limited community.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A retrospective review of case records of 1,413 consecutive patients seen in a private optometry practice, Nigeria between January 2006 and July 2007.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total number of 1,216 (86.1%) patients comprising of (486, 40%) males and (730, 60%) females with a mean age of 41.02 years SD 14.19 were analyzed. The age distribution peaked at peri-adolescent and the middle age years. The main ocular complaints were spectacles loss and discomfort (412, 33.9%), blurred near vision (399, 32.8%) and asthenopia (255, 20.9%). The mean duration of ocular symptoms before consultation was 2.05 years SD 1.92. The most common refractive errors include presbyopia (431, 35.3%), hyperopic astigmatism (240, 19.7%) and presbyopia with hyperopia (276, 22.7%). Only (59, 4.9%) had myopia. Following correction, there were reductions in magnitudes of the blind (VA<3/60) and visually impaired (VA<6/18-3/60) patients by (18, 58.1%) and (89, 81.7%) respectively. The main reasons for renewal of spectacles were broken lenses/frame/scratched lenses/lenses' falling off (47, 63.4%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Adequate correction of refractive errors reduces visual impairment and avoidable blindness and to achieve optimal control of refractive errors in the community, services should be targeted at individuals in the peri-adolescent and the middle age years.</p

Domestic animals infected with Mycobacterium ulcerans - implications for transmission to humans

Open Access Journal; Published online: 2 July 2018Background The environmental pathogen, Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU) can infect both humans and animals and cause Buruli ulcer (BU) disease. However, its mode(s) of transmission from the colonized environment to human/animal hosts remain unclear. In Australia, MU can infect both wildlife and domestic mammals. Till date, BU-like lesions have only been reported in wildlife in Africa. This warrants a thorough assessment of possible MU in domestic animals in Africa. Here, we screened roaming domesticated animals that share the human microhabitat in two different BU endemic sites, Sedje-Denou in Benin and Akonolinga in Cameroon, for MU lesions. Methodology/Principal findings We screened roaming mammals and birds across 3 endemic villages of Sedje-Denou in Southern Benin and 6 endemic villages of Akonolinga in Cameroon. After approval from relevant authorities, specimens (wound swabs and tissue fragments) were collected from animals with open or active lesion and systematically screened to detect the presence of MU though the diagnostic DNA targets IS2404, IS2606 and KR-B. Out of 397 animals surveyed in Akonolinga, 44 (11.08%) carried skin lesions and all were negative for MU DNA. For Sedje-Denou, only 25 (6.93%) out of 361 animals surveyed carried external skin lesions of which 2 (8%) were positive for MU DNA targets. These MU infected lesions were found in two different villages on a goat (abdominal part) and on a dog (nape area of the neck). Source-tracking of MU isolates within infected animal lesions was performed using VNTR genotyping and further confirmed with sequencing. One MU VNTR genotype (Z) was successfully typed from the goat lesion. The evolutionary history inferred from sequenced data revealed a clustering of animal MU isolates within isolates from human lesions. Conclusion/Significance This study describes the first report of two MU infected lesions in domestic animals in Africa. Their DNA sequence analyses show close relationship to isolates from human cases. It suggests that MU infection should be suspected in domestic hosts and these could play a role in transmission. The findings further support the hypothesis that MU is a ubiquitous environmental pathogen found in endemic areas, and probably involved in a multiple transmission pathway

The Impact of Credit on Poultry Farm Productivity in Oyo State, Nigeria

The study examined the impact of credit constraint on the productivity of poultry farmers. The sources of credit and the amount demanded by the farmers in the study area were assessed. A random sample of farmers was taken in Ibadan metropolis. Primary data was collected on their socio-economic characteristics, sources of capital and credit, quantities and prices of their farm inputs and outputs. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Results show that informal sources of credit are still preferred and more than half of the respondents are credit constrained. The statistically significant factors that affect farm productivity include value of feed, quantity of water, numbers and age of birds, training and the credit constraint condition of farmers. Credit constraint will reduce farm's productivity. It shows that access to credit is not sufficient to improve productivity but the credit must be adequate to ensure sufficient working capital. Both commercial and development banks should be encouraged to extend adequate credit to this sub-sector. This could be effectively carried out through their cooperative societies. The transaction cost of credit should also be reduced by extending credit to farmers through these societies. This will encourage more farmers to obtain loan from formal sources. There is the need for a thorough appraisal of poultry projects as it will assist in the correct assessment of the credit needs of loan applicants. Keywords: poultry, credit constraints, formal and informal lenders, productivit

HIV/AIDS and Efficiency of Food Production in the Rainforest Belt of Nigeria

ABSTRACT The spread of HIV/AIDS to rural areas in Nigeria poses a lot of concern to policymakers due to their perceived higher vulnerability and relevance for national food security. This study analyzed allocative efficiency of food production by farmers in affected and non-affected households in the rainforest belt of Nigeria. Data from 515 farming households in 5 states were used. Results show that inefficiency significantly increased (p&lt; 0.10) with HIV/AIDS infection, market distance, farm days lost, market days lost, while farming experience, use of mulching, years of schooling, and tendency to crop specialization significantly decreased it. The average overall allocative efficiency for the HIV/AIDS affected farmers is 40.66 percent as against the 68.21 percent for non-affected. The study recommends that efforts to address HIV/AIDS must focus on economic empowerment for rural youths while food production will increase by promoting the use of soil conservation practices, development of rural market infrastructure, and educational facilities

Determinants of Participation in Urban Agriculture in Ibadan North -West Local government Area of Oyo State

The study examined factors that affect participation In urban agriculture. Different categories of urban agriculture were Identified and the problems encountered by these farmers enumerated. Data were collected using the stratified random sampling technique from 115 respondents in the study area made up of 89 farmers and 29 non -farmers. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the logit model. Results show that the mean age of the respondents is 45.8% and are still economically active. Farming is practised as primary occupation by 10.2% of the respondents and as secondary occupation by 65.3 %. The most common form of production practised is arable crop production followed by horticulture. Preference for arable crop production is due to lack of title to land. Factors that affect participation in urban agriculture include age, years of schooling, number of dependants, food expenditure and non -food expenditure. Lack of title to land and theft were stated as the most pressing problems. The study recommends that government should establish farm settlements In peri-urban centres where land would be leased to farmers particularly young unemployed youths. This will reduce the problem of land acquisition and inadequate household food supply

Determinants of Participation in Urban Agriculture in Ibadan North -West Local government Area of Oyo State

The study examined factors that affect participation In urban agriculture. Different categories of urban agriculture were Identified and the problems encountered by these farmers enumerated. Data were collected using the stratified random sampling technique from 115 respondents in the study area made up of 89 farmers and 29 non -farmers. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the logit model. Results show that the mean age of the respondents is 45.8% and are still economically active. Farming is practised as primary occupation by 10.2% of the respondents and as secondary occupation by 65.3 %. The most common form of production practised is arable crop production followed by horticulture. Preference for arable crop production is due to lack of title to land. Factors that affect participation in urban agriculture include age, years of schooling, number of dependants, food expenditure and non -food expenditure. Lack of title to land and theft were stated as the most pressing problems. The study recommends that government should establish farm settlements In peri-urban centres where land would be leased to farmers particularly young unemployed youths. This will reduce the problem of land acquisition and inadequate household food supply

Evaluation of Seed Pre-sowing Treatment Effects on Seedling Emergence and Morphological Growth Parameters of Acacia auriculiformis (Australian Wattle) in Different Soil Types

The multiple products derivable from Acacia auriculiformis in terms of its soil nutrient augmentation by virtue of its nitrogen fixation capabilities are incontrovertible. This is in addition to being an ornamental, evergreen and shade providing tree, But its seed dormancy and dearth of knowledge regarding its growth rates in different soil types had hampered large scale production of its seedlings. Thus, an evaluation of the effects of some seed pre-sowing treatments on its seedling emergence (rates and percentages) and morphological growth parameters (external) in different soil types were investigated at the Screen House of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria for a period of 8 weeks. The experimental design was a 4 × 3 factorial experiment in completely randomized design comprising 4 different soil types, 3 pre – sowing treatment methods (replicated thrice). Seedling emergence (rates and percentages) and external morphological growth indices (plant height, collar girth, number of leaves and leaf area) were investigated. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was employed in processing the data collected by employing relevant statistical package (SPSS 20.0). Results indicated that seeds pretreated with concentrated sulphuric acid and sowed in sandy loam (a3b1) emerged as the best treatment combination in terms of seedling emergence rate and percentage, morphological growth indices (significant at P&lt;0.05) while the control (aobo: river sand with untreated seeds) had the lowest values

Capital Flight and the Economic Growth: Evidence from Nigeria

This research examined the impact of capital flight and its determinants on the Nigerian economy using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to analyze data source from the period of 1981 to 2015. The variables included current account balance, capital flight, foreign direct investments, foreign reserve, inflation rate, external debt, and the real gross domestic product. It was to examine the existence of a long run relationship among the variables studied. The result indicates that capital flight has a negative impact on the economic growth of Nigeria. Therefore, the government needs to implement policies that will promote domestic investment and discourage capital flight from Nigeri