Reconstructing Africa’s Development in the New Millennium Through NEPAD: Can African Leaders Deliver the Goods?

No Abstract

Effect of Palm Oil Milling Wastes on the Physico-Chemical Properties of Soils in Okija, Southeastern Nigeria

This research work was carried out to determine the physico-chemical properties of soils as affected by palm oil milling wastes in Okija, Anambra state, Nigeria. Soil samples from an abandoned palm oil mill (site 1), active palm oil mill (site 2) and a fallow land (site 3) were collected from three mini-pits per land unit at 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths. The soil samples were air-dried, sieved with a 2-mm sieve and analyzed for physico-chemical properties. Data collected in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) were subjected to analysis of variance. ECEC were significantly different (p<0.05) in the surface and subsurface soils among the sites. Significant differences also existed among bulk density of the surface soils. Again, significant difference existed in the Ca2+ content of the surface and subsurface soils among the sites. The Ca2+ content of the soils of abandoned palm oil mill (13.98 Cmolkg-1) was about 50% more than that of soils of the other two study sites. Available phosphorous in the study sites was highly variable (CV = 71 %) and the values were significantly different in the surface and subsurface soils among the sites. There were significant differences in the organic matter contents among the surface soils of the study sites and were highly variable (CV= 53%). It is therefore advisable that palm oil mill wastes especially palm oil mill effluent undergoes some form of treatment or decomposition before deposition on the soil.Keywords: Palm oil milling effluent, soil properties, fertility indices, target soil survey, mini-pits

DIUDRETIC PROFILE OF ALLIUM CEPA IN ALBINO RATS

Allium cepa extract frusemide and 1%NaCl solution initiated a significant increase (

Spatial Analysis of Particle Size Distribution of Soils Formed on Basement Complex Materials in the Southwestern Nigeria

Variability in soil properties is a critical element for agronomic and environmental decision making processes. This study therefore assessed the extent of spatial dependence and spatial structure of particlesize distribution in 0.49 hectares of land and their implications on pedogenesis and management of basement complex soils of southwestern Nigeria. A total of forty-nine (49) surface soil (0 – 15 cm) samples were collected at 10 m2 rigid grid (node) intervals in a plot under fallow at University of Ibadan Teaching and Research Farm, Ibadan. Classical statistics (including statistics of dispersion, test of normality andcorrelation analysis) and geostatistics were adopted in evaluation of spatial variability of soil particle size distribution. The results of coefficient of variation indicated that sand, and coarse sand contents were leastvariable (1535%). Spatial dependence of the soil separates indicated that clayand coarse sand had 16.6% and 24.6%, respectively and were strongly spatially dependent. Moderately spatially dependent soil properties included silt (46.5%), fine sand (59.7%), silt + clay (54.4%) and SCR(52.9%), while total sand (93.6%) was weak. The Pearson correlation coefficients of the semivariances indicated significant relationships between sand and silt + clay (r = -0.99,

Lymphatic Filariasis in Nigeria; Micro-stratification Overlap Mapping (MOM) as a Prerequisite for Cost-Effective Resource Utilization in Control and Surveillance

Background Nigeria has a significant burden of lymphatic filariasis (LF) caused by the parasite Wuchereria bancrofti. A major concern to the expansion of the LF elimination programme is the risk of serious adverse events (SAEs) associated with the use of ivermectin in areas co-endemic with Loa filariasis. To better understand this, as well as other factors that may impact on LF elimination, we used Micro-stratification Overlap Mapping (MOM) to highlight the distribution and potential impact of multiple disease interventions that geographically coincide in LF endemic areas and which will impact on LF and vice versa. Methodology/Principal findings LF data from the literature and Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) were collated into a database. LF prevalence distributions; predicted prevalence of loiasis; ongoing onchocerciasis community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTi); and long-lasting insecticidal mosquito net (LLIN) distributions for malaria were incorporated into overlay maps using geographical information system (GIS) software. LF was prevalent across most regions of the country. The mean prevalence determined by circulating filarial antigen (CFA) was 14.0% (n = 134 locations), and by microfilaria (Mf) was 8.2% (n = 162 locations). Overall, LF endemic areas geographically coincided with CDTi priority areas, however, LLIN coverage was generally low (<50%) in areas where LF prevalence was high or co-endemic with L. loa. Conclusions/Significance The extensive database and series of maps produced in this study provide an important overview for the LF Programme and will assist to maximize existing interventions, ensuring cost effective use of resources as the programme scales up. Such information is a prerequisite for the LF programme, and will allow for other factors to be included into planning, as well as monitoring and evaluation activities given the broad spectrum impact of the drugs used

Private Financing of the Military: A Local Political Economy Approach

The article of record as published may be located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12116-012-9119-2In developing countries that are democratizing after military rule, and undergoing liberalizing economic reforms that encourage a shrinking of the state, what missions are the armed forces performing, who funds those missions, who benefits from military services, and why? This article analyzes security provision by the armed forces for paying clients—especially private companies in extractive industries—in accordance with negotiations between clients and commanders of the local military units that directly provide the security. The analysis identifies two paths toward local military–client relations. First, weak state capacity may mean that government control of military finances brought by democratization and economic reform remains limited to the national level, promoting local military–client exchanges. Second, amid minimal government control of military finances, even in the capital city, demand from companies in the powerful extractive industries and from recently endowed subnational governments can encourage local military–client contracting