Effect of Fiscal and Monetary Policies on Industrial Sector Performance- Evidence from Nigeria

We unearth the impact of monetary and fiscal policies (i.e. stabilization policies) on the performance of the manufacturing sector as a real sector in Nigeria, using an error correction mechanisms model, and discover that those policies has expected impact on output of the manufacturing sector in Nigeria both in  the short-run and long-run. Relationship among the stabilization policies on one hand and industrial or manufacturing sector out put on the other hand.The model makes use of time series data while ordinary least squared was the techniques of analysis, the data were filtered with use of augmented dickey fuller unit root test while Johansen co-integration test was used to justify the long-run relationship among all included variables. While the error correction model serves the basis for adjustment from short-run drift (disequilibrium) to long-run equilibrium through its speed of adjustment.The research work established that stabilization policy has a great impact on manufacturing sector performance and that if certain adjustment are made it would better the lots of the people by developing the sector, through Government fiscal policy and its monetary policy measures. Keywords: fiscal and monetary policies, industrial sector, error correction model, Nigeria

ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES OF HONEY FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN THE TROPICAL RAIN FOREST BELT OF NIGERIA, ON SELECTED BACTERIAL ISOLATES

Honey has been used for various purposes including treatment of diseases. This study was carried out to determine antibacterial activities of honey samples obtained from different locations in the tropical Rainforest Belt of Nigeria (Abeokuta, Aiyetoro, Ajebo, and Saki) against reference bacterial isolates: Escherichia coli (E.coli) (ATCC 25922) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), using agar well diffusion technique. Staphylococcus aureus showed sensitivity to all honey samples used with the zone of inhibition ranging between 1.9 and 2.6mm. Escherichia coli was resistant to all concentrations of honey samples used. However, the present study did not explore the possible causative agent(s) involved in the antibacterial activity of the honey used.Â

STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT FOR AGING AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE ENGINEERS IN NIGERIA AVIATION INDUSTRY

The paper focuses on Stra tegic Human Resource Development (SHRD) for aging Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AME) in Nigeria aviation Industry. The existing AME are aging and the concern that there are no strategic plans to meet their requirements is posing a threat to safety of fli ght operations in the Nigerian aviation industry. Although there are numbers of foreign AMEs in Nigeria, however the current shortfalls call for the need to equip indigenous AME so as fill the emerging gaps. Aging technical workforce in aviation industry i s a global phenomenon. Singapore aviation industry embarked on Pre - Employment Educational Training (PET) system in addition to ‘ Attract, Develop and Retain’ (ADR) model in addressing the problems of aging workforce. This paper determined the future needs o f aging AMEs and identified strategic plans to address the gaps . Qualitative research design was used to collect and analyse primary data using Windows based Statistical Package for Social Science Student (SPSS). Despite its advocacy in the national media, result showed that, there are no coherent national strategic plans (i.e. training, workplace design, reward, recognition and retention) to meet the forecasted future aging AME needs hence supporting the research hypothesis. A generic framework model (GORD LAR), adapted from ADR was developed as a strategic implementation matrices to enable airlines meet the future forecasting needs of aging technical workforce. This paper argued the need to augment significant manpower development, training and work design plan for young or aspiring AMEs. It further calls for the need to re - strategise the SHRD framework of the numerous foreign AME working in Nigeria in the mentoring and transfer of knowledge to the younger and indigenously produced AME. Future work would inc lude examining the issue in respect of coexistence of multigenerational AME in Nigeria; and the need to encourage Nigerian airlines to implement GORDLAR model as SHRD and as proposed in this paper to meet the future forecasting needs of AME

Genotoxicity assessment of a pharmaceutical effluent using four bioassays

Pharmaceutical industries are among the major contributors to industrial waste. Their effluents when wrongly handled and disposed of endanger both human and environmental health. In this study, we investigated the potential genotoxicity of a pharmaceutical effluent, by using the Allium cepa, mouse- sperm morphology, bone marrow chromosome aberration (CA) and micronucleus (MN) assays. Some of the physico-chemical properties of the effluent were also determined. The A. cepa and the animal assays were respectively carried out at concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5 and 10%; and 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50% of the effluent. There was a statistically different (p < 0.05), concentration-dependent inhibition of onion root growth and mitotic index, and induction of chromosomal aberrations in the onion and mouse CA test. Assessment of sperm shape showed that the fraction of the sperm that was abnormal in shape was significantly (p < 0.05) greater than the negative control value. MN analysis showed a dose-dependent induction of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes across the treatment groups. These observations were provoked by the toxic and genotoxic constituents present in test samples. The tested pharmaceutical effluent is a potentially genotoxic agent and germ cell mutagen, and may induce adverse health effects in exposed individuals

Measuring oxygen access: lessons from health facility assessments in Lagos, Nigeria

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted global oxygen system deficiencies and revealed gaps in how we understand and measure ‘oxygen access’. We present a case study on oxygen access from 58 health facilities in Lagos state, Nigeria. We found large differences in oxygen access between facilities (primary vs secondary, government vs private) and describe three key domains to consider when measuring oxygen access: availability, cost, use. Of 58 facilities surveyed, 8 (14%) of facilities had a functional pulse oximeter. Oximeters (N=27) were typically located in outpatient clinics (12/27, 44%), paediatric ward (6/27, 22%) or operating theatre (4/27, 15%). 34/58 (59%) facilities had a functional source of oxygen available on the day of inspection, of which 31 (91%) facilities had it available in a single ward area, typically the operating theatre or maternity ward. Oxygen services were free to patients at primary health centres, when available, but expensive in hospitals and private facilities, with the median cost for 2 days oxygen 13 000 (US$36) and 27 500 (US$77) Naira, respectively. We obtained limited data on the cost of oxygen services to facilities. Pulse oximetry use was low in secondary care facilities (32%, 21/65 patients had SpO2 documented) and negligible in private facilities (2%, 3/177) and primary health centres (<1%, 2/608). We were unable to determine the proportion of hypoxaemic patients who received oxygen therapy with available data. However, triangulation of existing data suggested that no facilities were equipped to meet minimum oxygen demands. We highlight the importance of a multifaceted approach to measuring oxygen access that assesses access at the point-of-care and ideally at the patient-level. We propose standard metrics to report oxygen access and describe how these can be integrated into routine health information systems and existing health facility assessment tools

Influence of socio-demographic variables on the choice of contraceptives among women attending ANC unit at specialist hospital Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria

Background: A contraceptive choice that couples make is a key component of the Sustainable Development Goal agenda and a major contributor to national health. In spite of the importance of increased contraceptive uptake among couples of reproductive ages, meeting the reproductive health rights of women remains an issue due to multi-faceted obstacles within complex environments. The issues which impact women’s reproductive health rights in relation to contraception relate to availability, accessibility, affordability, literacy, tradition, and culture. This study explores the influence of socio-demographic data on the choice of contraceptives among women who are accessing family planning services at a Specialist hospital, Sokoto-Nigeria.Methods: A cross sectional study was used in this quantitative research to generate data on contraceptive choices of women within the reproductive age (18-49 years) who are accessing family planning services at Specialist hospital, Sokoto. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from 352 respondents who were randomly sampled at a Specialist hospital, Sokoto-Nigeria. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analyses were used in the data analyses.Results: The findings of this study established age, occupation and level of education to be related with the usage and choice of contraceptives among women attending family planning unit at a Specialist hospital in Sokoto.Conclusions: The result of the study indicated that the socio–demographic data of the respondent, has a significant role in the choice of contraceptives among the women attending family planning unit of Specialist Hospital Sokoto

Quality assessment of hydroquinone, mercury, and arsenic in skin-lightening cosmetics marketed in Ilorin, Nigeria

Hydroquinone, Mercury (Hg), and Arsenic (As) are hazardous to health upon long-term exposure. Hydroquinone, Hg, and As were analysed in skin-lightening cosmetics randomly purchased from different cosmetic outlets within the Ilorin metropolis, Nigeria. The amount of hydroquinone in the samples was determined using a UV-spectrophotometry method at 290 nm. Hg and As were quantified using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). UV-spectrophotometry method validation showed excellent linearity (r2 = 0.9993), with limits of detection (0.75 g/mL), limits of quantification (2.28 g/mL), relative standard deviation (0.01–0.35%), and recovery (95.85–103.56%) in the concentration range of 5–50 g/mL. Similarly, r2, LOD, and LOQ for Hg and As were 0.9983 and 0.9991, (0.5 and 1.0 g/L) and 1.65 and 3.3 g/L) respectively. All the samples contained hydroquinone, Hg and As in varying amounts. The amounts of hydroquinone, Hg and As present were in the ranges of 1.9–3.3%, 0.08–2.52 g/g and 0.07–5.30 g/g respectively. Only three of the analysed samples contained hydroquinone within the permissible limit of 2.0% w/w in cosmetic products. All the samples analysed contained mercury and arsenic in varying amounts. The need to periodically monitor the levels of hydroquinone, mercury, and arsenic in skin-lightening cosmetics marketed in Nigeria is recommended

Technical innovations in processing cassava peels into new products for feeding livestock and fish and for food safety

Poster prepared for international conference on Integrated Systems Research for Sustainable Intensification in Smallholder Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria, 3-6 March 201

The burden and risks of pediatric pneumonia in Nigeria: A desk‐based review of existing literature and data

Background: Pneumonia is a leading killer of children under‐5 years, with a high burden in Nigeria. We aimed to quantify the regional burden and risks of pediatric pneumonia in Nigeria, and specifically the states of Lagos and Jigawa. / Methods: We conducted a scoping literature search for studies of pneumonia morbidity and mortality in under‐5 children in Nigeria from 10th December 2018 to 26th April 2019, searching: Cochrane, PubMed, and Web of Science. We included grey literature from stakeholders' websites and information shared by organizations working in Nigeria. We conducted multivariable logistic regression using the 2016 to 2017 Multiple Cluster Indicators Survey data set to explore factors associated with pneumonia. Descriptive analyses of datasets from 2010 to 2019 was done to estimate trends in mortality, morbidity, and vaccination coverage. / Results: We identified 25 relevant papers (10 from Jigawa, 8 from Lagos, and 14 national data). None included data on pneumonia or acute respiratory tract infection burden in the health system, inpatient case‐fatality rates, severity, or age‐specific pneumonia mortality rates at state level. Secondary data analysis found that no household or caregiver socioeconomic indicators were consistently associated with self‐reported symptoms of cough and/or difficulty breathing, and seasonality was inconsistently associated, dependant on region. / Conclusion: There is a clear evidence gap around the burden of pediatric pneumonia in Nigeria, and challenges with the interpretation of existing household survey data. Improved survey approaches are needed to understand the risks of pediatric pneumonia in Nigeria, alongside the need for investment in reliable routine data systems to provide data on the clinical pneumonia burden in Nigeria

Health system challenges for improved childhood pneumonia case management in Lagos and Jigawa, Nigeria

Background: Case fatality rates for childhood pneumonia in Nigeria remain high. There is a clear need for improved case management of pneumonia, through the sustainable implementation of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) diagnostic and treatment algorithms. We explored barriers and opportunities for improved case management of childhood pneumonia in Lagos and Jigawa states, Nigeria. / Methods: A mixed‐method analysis was conducted to assess the current health system capacity to deliver quality care. This was done through audits of 16 facilities in Jigawa and 14 facilities in Lagos, questionnaires (n = 164) and 13 focus group discussions with providers. Field observations provided context for data analysis and triangulation. / Results: There were more private providers in Lagos (4/8 secondary facilities) and more government providers in Jigawa (4/8 primary, 3/3 secondary, and 1/1 tertiary facilities). Oxygen and pulse oximeters were available in two of three in Jigawa and six of eight in Lagos of the sampled secondary care facilities. None of the eight primary facilities surveyed in Jigawa had oxygen or pulse oximetry available while in Lagos two of three primary facilities had oxygen and one of three had pulse oximeters. Other IMCI and emergency equipment were also lacking including respiratory rate timers, particularly in Jigawa state. Health care providers scored poorly on knowledge of IMCI, though previous IMCI training was associated with better knowledge. Key enabling factors in delivering pediatric care highlighted by health care providers included accountability procedures and feedback loops, the provision of free medication for children, and philanthropic acts. Common barriers to provide care included the burden of out‐of‐pocket payments, challenges in effective communication with caregivers, delayed presentation, and lack of clear diagnosis, and case management guidelines. / Conclusion: There is an urgent need to improve how the prevention and treatment of pediatric pneumonia is directed in both Lagos and Jigawa. Priority areas for reducing pediatric pneumonia burden are training and mentoring of health care providers, community health education, and introduction of oximeters and oxygen supply