Perceived constraints to public participation in contemporary Nigerian land-use planning

Public participation (PP) has become a major feature of land-use planning, sanctioned by national and international laws as a platform for state, civil societies and citizens’ engagement. However, there is a dearth of information regarding ethnic minorities and marginalised groups about their interests and limitations in participatory planning. This article examines the level of citizens’ involvement and the constraints to participation in land-use planning. It analyses whether these constraints hinder some society groups more than their counterparts. These were examined using sampled participants in Nigeria. To test for the conceptual variance, factor analysis was used, while the likelihood of being hindered as against respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics was examined, using logistics regression. Findings show a low level of PP and yield a four-factor solution explaining 66.42% of the variance in PP. More hindrances to PP were perceived by ethnic minorities, the aged, females, tenants and rural dwellers compared to their counterparts. This gap between these community groups in PP was due to individual, community, and institutional factors. The article concludes that the structure of the Nigerian society still favours specific socio-demographic groups, even though the democratic transition and the subsequent constitutional amendments give all residents equal rights to political participation. There is the need for public policies, community and private investment to remove these constraints and make the PP programme truly public and attractive to all. The government and town-planning agencies may use the results in this article to help enhance their understanding of the hindrances to PP

Exploring Spatial Pattern of Residential Property Value around Cultural Heritage Sites in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Cities in both developed and developing economies are characterised by various cultural heritage sites. Such sites can impact the value of residential properties around them either positively or negatively. In view of this, this study explores the spatial pattern of residential property values around cultural heritage sites in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. One (1) cultural heritage site each was purposively selected in the core and sub-urban areas of Ile-Ife. Furthermore, systematic sampling technique was used to select one of every twenty (20) buildings within different radii (1-300, 301-600 and 601-900 meters) of the selected cultural heritage sites. A total of two hundred and twenty-three (223) buildings were selected. Hence, 223 questionnaires were administered on the residents of the buildings. Interview was also conducted on ten (10) real estate practitioners in the study area to optimally provide answers rental values of residential properties around the cultural heritage sites. The extracted data were analysed using multiple regression and rent differential technique. Findings showed that as distance increases from the cultural heritage sites, the average rental value of residential properties was also on the increase in the core and sub-urban areas of Ile-Ife. It was therefore established that there exists a positive relationship between the distance from cultural heritage sites and rental values of residential properties. The study further revealed that cultural heritage sites had a negative impact on the rental values of proximate residential properties in the study area. The study however concluded that the rental values of residential properties reflect distance to cultural heritage sites. It is recommended that property investors should give adequate attention to location to make accurate and dependable decisions on the supply of residential properties, especially in cities where there are cultural heritage sites

Exploring Spatial Pattern of Residential Property Value around Cultural Heritage Sites in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Cities in both developed and developing economies are characterised by various cultural heritage sites. Such sites can impact the value of residential properties around them either positively or negatively. In view of this, this study explores the spatial pattern of residential property values around cultural heritage sites in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. One (1) cultural heritage site each was purposively selected in the core and sub-urban areas of Ile-Ife. Furthermore, systematic sampling technique was used to select one of every twenty (20) buildings within different radii (1-300, 301-600 and 601-900 meters) of the selected cultural heritage sites. A total of two hundred and twenty-three (223) buildings were selected. Hence, 223 questionnaires were administered on the residents of the buildings. Interview was also conducted on ten (10) real estate practitioners in the study area to optimally provide answers rental values of residential properties around the cultural heritage sites. The extracted data were analysed using multiple regression and rent differential technique. Findings showed that as distance increases from the cultural heritage sites, the average rental value of residential properties was also on the increase in the core and sub-urban areas of Ile-Ife. It was therefore established that there exists a positive relationship between the distance from cultural heritage sites and rental values of residential properties. The study further revealed that cultural heritage sites had a negative impact on the rental values of proximate residential properties in the study area. The study however concluded that the rental values of residential properties reflect distance to cultural heritage sites. It is recommended that property investors should give adequate attention to location to make accurate and dependable decisions on the supply of residential properties, especially in cities where there are cultural heritage sites

An integrated Dynamic Pricing Scheme for improving the smartness of off grid distributed generation

This paper presents an integrated dynamic pricing scheme (iDPS) developed for an off grid community in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). This proposed model employs a neighbourhood approach in effectively determining the electricity units due to connected consumers based on their monthly contributions. Assuming base values, this model obviates the need for real time inputs from the users owing to the high illiteracy level in SSA and dynamically computes electricity price in real time such that below par paying consumers pay more compared to base or above base consumers. Additionally, the smart load distribution board employed ensures that electricity units are dispatched in quantized values demanding greater energy efficiency from the consumers. This model achieves economic accrual which guarantees the sustainability of the off grid DG project

DEVELOPMENT OF A VIBRATORY HONEY EXTRACTOR

Extraction of honey from honey comb is extracted predominantly using either traditional method or the mechanical screw press method which generates a problem of crushing the comb along with the extract. This creates an additional cost of separating unwanted materials in the extract. To solve this problem for stakeholders in the honey business worldwide, a vibratory honey extractor was conceived, designed and fabricate. The machine was made of stainless, mild steel and plastic materials. The machine has a capacity of 2.5 Kw and operates at speed and frequency of 483 rpm and 50 Hz respectively. The machine was able to attain an extract of 98.9% a value far better than the centrifugal method within 40 minutes of operation. A reduction to 0.21 of the initial weight of honey extraction was obtained at an average extraction rate of 7.36g /min. The honey extracted was good quality given the best acceptable value for all stakeholders in the honey business industries

GENERATION OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY VIA WIND ENERGY IN ILORIN: AN EXPLORATION OF A LOCALLY CONSTRUCTED WIND TURBINE

Wind energy is a renewable source of energy which has a definite place in the future of the generation of electricity. To harness the energy from the wind, a wind turbine is employed. Wind turbines assist in the production of power to compensate for the moderate intensity of the breeze to drive a generator. With the use of wind turbines, the energy in the wind can be converted into electrical energy. A small scale horizontal wind turbine was constructed with readily available and locally sourced materials. The height of the turbine was varied from 3 to 6 meters and two different locations in Ilorin, a tropical region, was used to observe how theturbine generates electricity via the wind turbine. The dam site, one of the locations, gives very high wind speed which in turn produces high open circuit voltage of around 4000 mV. Electrical energy generation from wind energy is observed to be largely dependent, not only on the electric motor used, but on the wind speed available for the turbine.&nbsp

Nutritionally Improved Cookies from Composite Flour: African Walnut (Tetracarpidium conophorum) with Wheat

African walnut seed (Tetracarpidium conophorum) is rich in protein and phytochemical with great potentials for food application, but has limited uses in food industry. The African walnut seed was procured from Oje market and commercial wheat flour in Aleshiloye market, Ibadan. The commercial wheat and African walnut flours were composites of varying ratios; 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30 and 60:40 to prepare cookies and labeled samples X, A, B, C and D respectively. The proximate composition, anti-nutrients (oxalates, phytate and protease inhibitor), phyto-chemical (tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, and Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) and sensory evaluation of the cookies were determined using standard methods. The result of proximate composition of cookies showed that carbohydrate (47.0-52.36%), protein (16.3-19.6%) and fat (18.5-19.2%) were the major components in the cookie samples. Other components including; moisture (7.7-8.4%), ash (4.1-4.2%) and fibre (0.9-1.8%) were generally low. Anti-nutrient factors of cookie samples ranged from 11.3-17.7mg/100g for Phytate and no traces of oxalates and protease inhibitors in all cookie samples. Control cookie sample had no traces of tannin, flavonoids and saponins, but enriched cookie ranged from 10.3-14.7mg/100g; 3.4-5.7mg/100g and 10.7-15.3mg/100g, respectively. Phytochemical constituents of cookie samples in ORAC ranged from 3.4-12.0mg/100g and alkaloids (3.7-7.7mg/100g). Organoleptic panelists preferred sample X to all other samples, followed by sample A. Inclusion of 10% African walnut flour compared favorably with wheat cookie in terms of sensory quality

Screening of Antimicrobial Ethanolic Extract of Peristrophe bicalyculata

The ethanolic extract from Peritrophe bicalyculata leaves was evaluated for the presence of phytochemicals and its antimicrobial activity in vitro against selected bacteria and fungi using the antibiotic gentamycin as control. The extract showed the presence of secondary metabolites such as alkaloid, saponin, tannin and steroid. It also inhibited the growth of the tested microorganisms at different concentrations. However stronger in-vitro activity was recorded against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger, Asperigillus clavatus and Rhizopus stolonifer. The antimicrobial activity of the plant extract is an evidence of ethnomedicinal potential of the plant

REVIEW OF THE AERODYNAMICS AND PARTICLE DYNAMICS FOR COFFEE SEPARATION

The importance of agriculture in mitigating the effects of overdependence on crude oil export to boost Nigeria economy cannot be overemphasized. Coffee is an important foreign exchange earner and Nigeria has vast potential to resuscitate production, processing and export. An important first step to earn a premium on coffee is to ensure quality post-harvest practices which include cleaning sorting and classification which at present is either lacking or inadequate, given the poor price coffee of Nigeria origin currently attracts. This study reviewed a few notable research works on the aerodynamic of coffee and other notable works on its particle dynamics and related studies in agriculture. The subject of particle dynamics for coffee separation was lacking, hence the need to undertake detailed study on the subject the outcome of which would be to obtain particle trajectories of coffee beans and components as a basis to select the dimensions of a cross flow system to classify coffee beans which is a major requirement in coffee trade worldwide

RELEVANCE OF RAPID IMMUNODIAGNOSTIC TEST KITS IN MALARIA DIAGNOSIS

Over the past few decades, rapid immunodiagnostic test kits (RIDTK) have been used to compliment microscopy in parasitemia detection. In order to reduce malaria mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa where malaria is endemic, the most important characteristics required for a diagnostic method are high sensitivity for detecting Plasmodium falciparum and rapid availability of test results. However, in environments where malaria incidence is low, high specificity and high sensitivity for detection of non-P. falciparum species is very important; a repeat testing paradigm is also highly necessary. The requirements of a malaria rapid immunodiagnostic test differ with respect to regional malaria epidemiology and the goals of a malaria control program. Prompt and accurate diagnosis is very important for proper management and prevention of malaria and also to prevent morbidity, mortality and indiscriminate use of anti malaria agents. There has been a great progress in the development of many rapid and specific immunodiagnostic tests for diagnosing patients suffering from malaria. In this regard, the development is done with respect to the antigen(s) the antibodies are meant to detect. The three categories of rapid immunodiagnostic test kits that have so far been developed comprise Histidine-Rich Protein 2 (HRP-2), Parasite specific plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) and aldolase. Despite the fact that microscopy is still used as the reference test for malaria detection and having the ability to detect lower parasite densities, there abound a lot of shortcomings with it. However, the advent and development of rapid immunodiagnostic test kits has brought lasting solutions to some of these problems In order to reduce morbidity, mortality and transmission of malaria, prompt diagnosis and adequate treatment is highly essential and these can be achieved if an only when malaria rapid immunodiagnostic tests are used