Post-Amnesty Plan, Peace-Building and Peope-Centred Development in the Niger Delta: A Polycentric Planning and Poverty Reduction Strategy (PPPRS)

This proposal charts a course of action that the Federal Government of Nigeria can take in order to consolidate the gains of amnesty programme by building peace and engineering people-centred development in the Niger Delta. From theoretical formulations to empirical analysis, this proposal uses the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework to diagnose the missing links in several efforts and programmes designed to addressing the crisis in the Niger Delta. While the present amnesty programme has yielded some good results, the grey area – post-amnesty plan – that can address the problems and challenges that triggered violence, insecurity and economic loss in the Niger Delta requires urgent attentions. In other words, amnesty programme needs be complemented with pragmatic post-amnesty poverty reduction and development strategies that are people-oriented. It is apposite to make hay while the sun shines. In the light of this exigency, this proposal considers it imperative to adopt a polycentric planning and poverty reduction strategy (PPPRS) to resolving the Niger Delta crisis. The proposal is a summary of innovative problem-solving and solution-seeking ideas that area capable of addressing several challenges that are confronting the Niger Delta. It contains a well designed post-amnesty plan and programmes that can ensure economic empowerment, poverty reduction, people-centred development and peace-building in the region. The proposal designs a Niger-Delta Post-Amnesty Development Model (NDPADM) that derives inspirations and workability mechanisms from fifteen (15) African development models that are problem-solving and solution-seeking in several sectors of the economy in the Niger Delta. At the heart of NDPADM is African Public Sphere Restructuring Model (APSRM) designed for the setting up self-governing community assembly (SGCA) for deliberation, collegiality, mutual trust, reciprocity and shared community of understanding to enable citizens, both elite and non-elite to operate in synergy to collectively achieve socio-economic and techno-political objectives. Without a restructuring of the public space that could enable all the diverse interests in the Niger Delta to operate as colleagues with equal standing such that oil benefits are shared equitably, amnesty programme will be tantamount to fire brigade exercise, a waste of resources and a cycle of reinforced violence. Under the proposed new institutional arrangement, amnested persons will be involved in the activities of community assembly where they can function as agents of change in development arenas. Invariably, the amnesty programme of the federal government would enable ex-militants, freedom fighters, revolutionists and other citizens to make meaningful contributions towards development. The outcome of the restructuring is emergence of new institutional arrangements, which would reflect integrative constitutional order in socio-economic and techno-political realms. It is this joint action and synergy by the major stakeholders (public officials, scholars, oil companies and representatives of community self-governing institutions) that would eventually determine how government policies in all spheres of life in the region are to be implemented. After the institutional arrangement has been designed, operational strategy for implementation of any programme/project (e.g. employment generation, food security, road development, poverty reduction, environmental management, security of life and property, electoral reform and democratisation, conflict detection, prevention and resolution, etc.) can then be fashioned out. It is at this stage that any of the fifteen models can be applied to any of the specific action situations. For example, the Nigerian government can kick start post-amnesty programmes by implementing food security and employment generation programmes in the Niger Delta

Sand-Digging and Soil Excavation as an Environmental Degradation Factor in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area,Ogun State:An Interrogation of the Appropriateness of Construction Technology in Nigera

This paper uses Polycentric Planning, an off-shoot of the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework to interrogate the appropriateness of construction technology in sand-digging and soil excavation in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, Ogun State. The paper found that the technology adopted in sand-digging and soil excavation for the purpose of road and housing constructions is inappropriate for clean technology. Thus, the processes of degradation of the communities studied have intensified in recent times due to uncontrolled urbanization. It was also found that the average depth of digging in three sites is 6 meters; the average distance of sites distance to nearest building is 9 meters; the average distance to the nearest stream is 750 meters; the average distance to the nearest road is 18 meters; and the average area covered by the dug sites is 4.6 hectares. The crude method of soil excavation is causing untold damages to private property and infrastructures such as roads, electricity poles, drainage, etc. Similarly, it was found that excavation activities have induced damages on the existing drainage pattern due to sediments discharge to adjacent water bodies with the implication of inducing flooding. Using Polycentric Planning and Poverty Reduction Strategy, this paper adopts an African Polycentric Sustainable Environment Model (APSEM) for restructuring decision making on environment to conserve and protect environmental resources. The model and the proposed new institutional mechanism would enable local people and professionals/practitioners in the built environment to have a robust dialogue with the local government officials in order to reposition urban councils to effectively manage urban environment and conserve natural resource

A Review of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa and the Implications for more Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems

Indigenous and traditional foods crops (ITFCs) have multiple uses within society, and most notably have an important role to play in the attempt to diversify the food in order to enhance food and nutrition security. However, research suggests that the benefits and value of indigenous foods within the South African and the African context have not been fully understood and synthesized. Their potential value to the African food system could be enhanced if their benefits were explored more comprehensively. This synthesis presents a literature review relating to underutilized indigenous crop species and foods in Africa. It organizes the findings into four main contributions, nutritional, environmental, economic, and social-cultural, in line with key themes of a sustainable food system framework. It also goes on to unpack the benefits and challenges associated with ITFCs under these themes. A major obstacle is that people are not valuing indigenous foods and the potential benefit that can be derived from using them is thus neglected. Furthermore, knowledge is being lost from one generation to the next, with potentially dire implications for long-term sustainable food security. The results show the need to recognize and enable indigenous foods as a key resource in ensuring healthy food systems in the African continent

Numerical Computation of the Complex Eigenvalues of a Matrix by solving a Square System of Equations

It is well known that if the largest or smallest eigenvalue of a matrix has been computed by some numerical algorithms and one is interested in computing the corresponding eigenvector, one method that is known to give such good approximations to the eigenvector is inverse iteration with a shift. For complex eigenpairs, instead of using Ruhe’s normalization, we show that the natural two norm normalization for the matrix pencil, yields an underdetermined system of equation and by adding an extra equation, the augmented system becomes square which can be solved by LU factorization at a cheaper rate and quadratic convergence is guaranteed. While the underdetermined system of equations can be solved using QR factorization as shown in an earlier work by the same authors, converting it to a square system of equations has the added advantage that besides using LU factorization, it can be solved by several approaches including iterative methods. We show both theoretically and numerically that both algorithms are equivalent in the absence of roundoff errors

Climate Change,Urban Degreening and Flooding in Nigerian Cities:Reducing Vulnerability Through Polycentric Planning and Urban Greeenery Strategy(PPUGS)

This paper uses the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework to analyse the missing links in attempts to address the problems of flooding in Nigerian cities. Previous flooding and the recent ones have been attributed to heavy downpour, blockage of water channels and drainages, indiscriminate dumping of refuse and building of houses along channels. Areas that are neglected but pertinent to flood mitigation include: (1) degreening activities that remove green cover; (2) paving of open spaces with asphalt and concrete that accentuate storm water volume as percolation is reduced; and (3) unpaved surfaces that generate debris and silts that cause siltation and sedimentation of Atlantic Ocean and Lagoon with the consequence of rising sea level and coastal flooding. The paper reports the findings of longitudinal studies on causative factors of urban flooding. The studies commenced in Ile-Ife and Ibadan in 1997, conducted in Lagos in 1998-2000 and 2011 and in Ibadan in 2011 and 2012. The paper identified gaps between and among the stakeholders in environmentalism and ecosystemic balance at state and local levels. Indications from Ile-Ife, Lagos and Ibadan show that the three cities are experiencing degreening activities. For example, in Ile-Ife and Lagos, the green areas account for the least proportions, 24.1% and 27% of open spaces around buildings respectively, while 75.9% and 73.0% of the available open spaces are either paved or unpaved with the problem of heat radiation that demands additional energy for operating artificial cooling system and consequently increased global warming. In addition, degreening activities cause flooding. As more and more land is urbanised, and trees and grasses are replaced by asphalt and concrete, rainwater has less chance to be absorbed. Thus, storm water rushes down the streets while areas that were never flooded are now routinely under water. Other studies in Lagos show that: (i) there is an increase in the rate of sedimentation and sea level rise (ii) rainstorms in the city have become more intense and urban flooding will be more severe. Floods have devastated many parts of Lagos and Ibadan leading to loss of several lives and property and the displacement of several people. Statistics confirms that between 2011 and 2012, more than 150 billion naira (about $1 billion) was lost in Lagos, while 2,105 buildings were flooded in Ibadan with property damaged estimated in billions of Naira. As a result, the Lagos and Oyo States‟ Governments spent several millions of Naira on relief to the victims. This paper raises some fundamental questions on the roles of stakeholders (scholars, public officials, practitioners, professionals and citizens) within the built environment in designing strategies at mitigating urban flooding. This paper considered it imperative for the adoption of pragmatic and problem-solving strategies that can help in mitigating flooding in Lagos and Ibadan. Consequently, the paper designs an African Polycentric Urban Greenery Model (APUGM) that can be applied to addressing the challenges of flooding in the two cities. The paper emphasizes, among other considerations, the use of traducture in reaching the grassroots for solution to the recurrent challenges of flooding. The paper also designs strategies that Lagos and Oyo states‟ governments could adopt for the depopulation of the two cities – Lagos and Ibadan respectively through de-urbanisation, de-migration and re-migration

Prevalence of Gastro-intestinal Parasites of Cattle in Ogbomoso, Oyo State

A study was carried out on the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) nematodes infection in naturally infected cattle in Ogbomoso area of Oyo State using standard parasitological techniques. The results indicated that out of the 1000 cattle examined, 30(3%) were infected and parasites identified were Haemonchus contortus 8(26.7%), Trichostrongylus spp 13(43.3%) and Cooperia spp 2(6.7%) as single infection. Mixed infections involved Haemonchus contortus with Trichostrongylus spp 5(16.7%), H. contortus with Cooperia spp 2(6.7%) being statistically significant (p<0.05).The prevalence rates of GI nematodes based on the sex and age of the cattle were 3.02%, 2.97%, 3.2% and 2.8% in adult, young, male and female animals respectively, with the highest faecal egg counts in adult animals with no statistical significance difference (p>0.05). Both female and male cattle were more infected with Haemonchus contortus with 5 (62.5%) each, while only male and young cattle were infected with Cooperia spp 2 (100%) and 1 (50%) respectively. The highest rate of mixed infection occurred in adult cattle with Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus spp 2 (100%) followed by Haemonchus contortus and Cooperia spp in male 4 (80%) and adult 3 (60%).The variation in the prevalence of GI nematodes among sex and age groups within systems can be used as an entry point towards rational use of anthelmintics for each management system. More studies on seasonal transmission pattern of all these parasites are required in order to design rational, economic and locally sustainable parasite control programmes.Key words: Prevalence, gastro-intestinal parasites, Cattle, Ogbomos

AI powered social commerce technology and customer experience: A systematic literature review

Over the last 3 decades, the digital revolution has drastically transformed customer/user experience. Negroponte (1995) described this transformation as a shift from atoms to bits. Schmitt (2019) supported that, in the context of marketing atoms are fast moving consumer goods and their brands, made in factories, advertised through mass media, and sold in stores; bits are information, entertainment and interactive products, often produced instantaneously, promoted through social media and sold online. Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered technologies such as social commerce, Internet of things (IoT), Augmented reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Smart technology, or digital payments technologies have the potential to revolutionize customer or user experience. Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping business, economy, and society by transforming consumers experiences and relationships amongst stakeholders and citizens (Loureiro, Guerreiro and Tussyadiah, 2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Web-Based Advanced Traveller Information System for Minna Metropolis, Nigeria

Advanced Traveller Information System (ATIS) is used to provide accurate, integrated and comprehensive travel and traffic information to road users. The information helps in both pre-trip and en-route decision making. This study developed a web-based ATIS for Minna metropolis in Nigeria. The information provided is from both primary and secondary sources. The developed ATIS provides information on route guidance, available intercity transport services and hotels in the metropolis. It also allows users to determine both weather and traffic flow conditions. A component of the system makes provision for electronic fare payment and booking of trips and hotel accommodation. The deployment of the ATIS is a source of static and dynamic information

ABH secretor status of students in the college of medical sciences, University of Maiduguri by inhibition method

Background: ABH blood group and secretor status of individuals are inherited independently although both may be associated with diabetes, autoimmune diseases and heart diseases. Aim: A cross-sectional study was employed to determine the ABH blood group and secretor status of students in the University of Maiduguri. Methodology: Two ml blood and 3ml saliva were collected from each study participants and were assayed independently. The ABO blood group and secretor status were determined by tube method and haemagglutination inhibition technique respectively. Results: A total of 235 apparently healthy students of the College of Medical Sciences participated in this study. Of the 235 participants, 97.4% are ABH secretors whereas 2.6% are ABH non-secretors. One hundred and nineteen 119(50.6%) of the subjects are males, of which 115 are secretors while 4 are non-secretors. Among the 116(49.4%) females who participated, 114 are secretors while 2 are non-secretors. The distribution of ABO blood group among the subjects shows that 21.3% were group A, 20.8% group B, 8.5% group AB and 49.4% group O. Conclusion: In this study, Blood group O is the commonest while AB was the least among the subjects. Overall, there are more secretors than non-secretors among the subjects. However, the study suggests that the ability to secrete ABH substances is independent of ABO blood group genes. The analysis also helps in revealing the prevalence of secretor status among the students. With the associations of disease and secretors, the secretor status of individuals may play a role in the diagnosis and management of diseases. Keywords: ABO blood group; secretor status; ABH antigen