Youth unemployment and armed insurrection in post-military Nigeria: the contending issues

This article provides an overview of the internal conflicts within Nigeria, doing so primarily through explaining the role of Nigeria’s youth in either igniting or sustaining the types of insurgency that have plagued the country in the post-military era. In pursuing this, the paper focuses on the activities of the Niger Delta militants, which dominated the start of the current democratic dispensation, and those of the Boko Haram insurgents in the north. The paper suggests socio-economic empowerment of the youths as an antidote to youth unemployment, and, by extension, as a way to avert future armed insurrection and other forms of violent conflicts that have become synonymous with Nigerian youths

Implementation of lean practices in the construction industry: A systematic review

The implementation of lean principles and approaches is gaining grounds in the construction industry globally. However, there is no clear understanding of the number and categories of lean practices implemented and the benefits associated with it in the planning, design and construction of building and infrastructure projects. This paper relied on a systematic review of published literature in Scopus, Science Direct and Google Scholar to identify and categorize the different lean practices implemented in the construction industry and the benefits derivable from them. Totally, 102 documents published between 1996 and 2018 were reviewed and their contents analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. A total of 32 different lean practices categorised into design and engineering; planning and control; construction and site management; and health and safety management were identified. The review also found that the last planner system and just-in-time were the top two most implemented lean practices and about 20 different economic, social and environmental benefits were linked to the implementation of lean practices in the construction industry. This review is instructive that lean practices have good prospects for enhancing the productivity of the construction industry and achieving sustainable built environment, but a critical mass uptake and sustained implementation are required to attain these goal

Lean construction: an approach to achieving sustainable built environment in Nigeria

The Nigerian building industry (NIB) is faced with numerous challenges. Chief among these is how best to manage the different kinds of wastes generated during the building procurement process and by so doing improve the sustainability record of the industry. Cost overrun, time overrun, and waste of building materials are the major problems crippling the industry. However, lean approach has been established in western world such as the USA, UK and others as an approach that helps in attaining sustainability in the building projects. This paper presents result of a study conducted to identify benefits derivable from the adoption of lean practices (LPs) by firms in the NIB. The approach adopted for this study was the review of literature to identify the benefits of Lean Practices (LPs) adoption and a questionnaire survey of architecture, building consulting and contracting and quantity surveying firms in Abuja, Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Enugu and Kaduna. In all, 446 valid responses were obtained and the data analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result revealed that stakeholders in the Nigerian building industry perceived LPs adoption as very helpful in the reduction of time and cost overrun on projects. Thus, the study has established that the adoption of LPs is one of the ways stakeholders in the industry are using to achieve economic sustainability in the procurement of building projects and ensuring that clients and end-users get value for money in such projects

Assessment of the influence of continuous and intermittent irrigation on greenhouse gas emissions from paddy rice

The impact of two water management practises on Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) emissions from paddy rice fields was investigated. New Rice for Africa (NERICA 2) lowland variety was planted under intermittent irrigation (II) and continuous flooding (CF) water management practises. Two closed gas chambers (GCs) were developed and used for gas sampling from paddy fields and measurement was done conventionally in all the four growing stages of rice. Gas Chromatograph (GH200-9) was used analysing GHGs such as Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) and Oxygen (O2). Soil analyses were carried out to determine the presence of the following parameters viz: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn) and calcium (Ca). Others are Organic Carbon (OC), Moisture Content (MC), Iron (Fe), Chloride (Cl) and Electrical conductivity (EC) using standard laboratory procedures and ascertain effects of their availability on GHGs concentration levels. From the study, no appreciable CH4 emissions was detected during the four growing stages and under the two water management practises but other GHGs emitted were higher in CF compared with II. Soil nutrients such as N, OC, K and P also contributed considerably to emissions recorded on the two rice fields. The detection of H2S was also an indication that other gases apart from the common GHGs were present in rice fields. Although, CH4 was not detected, other GHGs emitted were more in CF when compared with II which suggested that II be encouraged as a mitigation strategy for reducing impacts of its emissions

Qualitative Analysis of Adolescents’ Sexual Behaviour in Ogun State, Nigeria: Implication for HIV/AIDS Policy

Combating HIV/AIDS globally, especially among young people is of economic and public health priority, as such, special focus has been given to it in the Millennium Development Goals. This study was designed to analyze adolescents’ sexual behaviour among secondary school students in Sagamu-Remo, Ogun state, Nigeria. Using purposive selection, Remo Divisional High School (coded R1) and Remo Secondary School (coded R2) selected and 400 students were randomly selected from each school to participate in the study. Data collection was done using structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Mean age, for respondents’ in R1 and R2 groups respectively, were 15.22±1.78 and 15.54±1.46. Although about 80% of the respondents were not yet sexually experienced as at time of survey, however, 29% male and 11% female have had sex. About 14% (male) and 6% (female) did not use condom during last coitus. Most of the sexually active respondents had their first sexual experience at ages 14 (male) and 16 (female). The majority (93%) of the respondents have never been screened for HIV/AIDS despite their awareness of the existence of the virus. Further analysis showed none existence of coercion to sex among the respondents, however, low levels of confidence were reported for performing important sexual risk avoidance tasks particularly in the case of sexual abstinence (58% for R1 group and 63% for R2), ability to convince their partner with respect to condom usage (60% for R1 and 58% for R2) and refusing sexual demands from the opposite sex (47% for R1 and 53% for R2). The need to incorporate of HIV/AIDS education into the school curricular and co-curricular activities in the secondary school education policy is recommended. Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Adolescents, Sexual behaviour, Nigeria

Incessant Building Collapse in Nigeria: A Framework for Post- Development Management Control

This study investigates post-development management approach of properties and how it could be improved to stem the tide of building collapse in Nigeria. Extant literatures were reviewed and primary data collected with the use of structured questionnaires administered on occupants of one hundred and fifty residential and seventy- five commercial properties across Lagos State, Nigeria. Data was analysed with basic descriptive tools such as frequency, percentage, Likert scale and weighted mean score. Findings reveal abuse of property management functions by property owners and non-professionals alike in the management of various properties. Findings also show a high level of dissatisfaction with the services provided mostly by the non-professionals and that integrity assessment is rarely carried out by the professionals and non-professionals alike. The study therefore recommends that post development property management services become an exclusive preserve of professional property managers. The study further recommends that properties must be subjected to mandatory integrity assessment and subsequently, recommended for similar exercise based on the report of routine management inspection. The proposed framework for carrying out the structural integrity assessment and appropriate recommendations for the outcome of routine inspection or integrity assessment is a key contribution of this study to existing literatures on building collapse in the country

Assessment of the role of Lean Construction Practices in Environmental Sustainability

The Construction Industry of which the building industry is a subsidiary has been identified as an industry that can help in the achievement of environmental sustainability. Literature has established practices such as Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), Prefabrication and Modularization and Just-in- Time (JIT) and others as environmental sustainable LCPs. Therefore, this paper investigated the adoption of these practices and areas LCPs adoption can help contribute to environmental sustainability in the Nigerian Building Industry. In order to achieve the aim of the study, a questionnaire survey was conducted in Abuja, Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Enugu and Kaduna covering five out of the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. The sample frame for the study consisted of architectural, building consulting and contracting and quantity survey firms in the selected cities. Totally, 446 valid responses were collected and analyzed descriptively using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results from the study revealed that firms in the Nigerian building industry have adopted all the 32 investigated LCPs. Specifically, it was found that VDC was the most adopted of all the 32 LCPs investigated in the Nigerian building industry. In addition, the result reveals that respondents are of the opinion that adoption of LCPs in building can help in the achievement of a sustainable environment through massive reduction of construction wastes that are injurious to the ecosystem

Synthesizing a Metal Matrix Composite (Al- Al2O3) from Aluminium (AA1237) Reinforced with Alumina (Al2O3) Particulates

Developing new materials with sophisticated material properties has been one of man’s greatest achievement in recent times. Composite has been helping the aerospace, automobile and marine industries where weight shedding is an added advantage. New materials like carbon fibres and carbon nanotubes are now being used extensively in the manufacture of certain vehicles parts and components. This research project dealt with the synthesis of a metal matrix composite using aluminium (AA1237) as the base matrix and reinforcing it with alumina particulate (5% and 10%); a ceramic material of both 80nm and 500nm sizes. The composites were developed using the stir casting method and the casted samples were prepared and subjected to various material testing. For hardness test, the specimen C1 (reinforced with 10% of alumina 80nm) has the highest value with 14.9HB, for electrical test, it was seen that an increase in the amount of reinforcement further reduces the electrical properties such as conductivity. Other tests that could not be carried were predicted using the Rule of Mixture concep

Incentive Package, Employee’s Productivity and Performance of Real Estate Firms in Nigeria

The level of motivation received by an employee as reflected in the satisfaction with the base pay package and other incentives goes a long way to influencing the employees’ attitude to work, loyalty, performance and job satisfaction. Employee’s motivation and organization performance has been investigated across different fields and economic sectors. This study takes it further by examining incentive package, employees and organization productivity in real estate firms in Nigeria. Panel survey approach was adopted and three questionnaires administered in each of the one hundred and seventeen (117) estate firms in Ikeja, Victoria Island and Lekki Area of Lagos State. Respondents were two employees and one other in employers’/management capacity. Descriptive tools such as frequency and percentage were used to identify and determine the proportion of firms that make use of incentive package/option while a 5-point Likert scale and ranking were used to determine and rank the options in order of importance among these firms. Panel data regression model was used to determine the strength of relationship between firms’ performance/productivity and incentives whilst holding other factors constant. Findings showed amongst others that there is strong positive correlation between incentive and employee productivity, employees are largely dissatisfied with the incentives offered by majority of estate firms and that incentive package is not the most important determinants of performance in real estate firms. The study therefore concludes that employers in real estate firms pay attention to other factors identified and review remuneration and incentive package to boost the morale of their employees for better performance

Incessant Building Collapse in Nigeria: A Framework for Post-Development Management Control

This study investigates post-development management approach of properties and how it could be improved to stem the tide of building collapse in Nigeria. Extant literatures were reviewed and primary data collected with the use of structured questionnaires administered on occupants of one hundred and fifty residential and seventy-five commercial properties across Lagos State, Nigeria. Data was analysed with basic descriptive tools such as frequency, percentage, Likert scale and weighted mean score. Findings reveal abuse of property management functions by property owners and non-professionals alike in the management of various properties. Findings also show a high level of dissatisfaction with the services provided mostly by the non-professionals and that integrity assessment is rarely carried out by the professionals and non-professionals alike. The study therefore recommends that post development property management services become an exclusive preserve of professional property managers. The study further recommends that properties must be subjected to mandatory integrity assessment and subsequently, recommended for similar exercise based on the report of routine management inspection. The proposed framework for carrying out the structural integrity assessment and appropriate recommendations for the outcome of routine inspection or integrity assessment is a key contribution of this study to existing literatures on building collapse in the country. Keywords: Building collapse, Post-Development, Property Management, Framework, Structural Integrit