Pension Trust Investment in Nigeria – Celebrating the Sea Change Wrought by the Pension Reform Act

This work surveys the modalities for pension trust investment in Nigeria, which has only recently been favoured with a distinct legal framework. It gives a brief historical account of pension administration in Nigeria, identifies the policy and philosophical underpinnings of the new pension regime, expounds the relevant provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2014 together with the Regulation on Investment of Pension Fund Assets, and concludes with a critique of the Act and recommendations. Pertinent comparison is made between the provisions of the new legislation and extant Trustee Investments Act (which hitherto governed pension trust investments) with a view to underscoring the sea change wrought by the new Act. Despite drafting flaws and other inadequacies, by creating a separate regime for pension trust investment; introducing defined contribution scheme and pension trusts into the public service; enlarging the scope of pension trust investments and initiating guaranteed minimum pension and Pension Protection Fund, the recent enactment represents a milestone in the annals of Nigerian pension legislation

Crown ratio assessment for Prosopis africana (Guill. and Perr.) Taub species in Makurdi, Nigeria

Information on tree crown is prerequisite for sustainable utilization of forest tree resources, as it is the site for physiological activities that lead to tree growth and development. Crown ratio (CR) is an index of tree stability; it indicates tree vigour and is a useful parameter for assessing forest condition. This study aimed at assessing crown ratio for improved silvicultural management of naturally grown Prosopis africana species within the University of Agriculture Makurdi, Nigeria. Nine temporary sample plots (TSPs) of size 100 m x 100 m were established using simple random sampling method. Diameter at breast height (Dbh), total height (Ht) and crown diameter (Cd) and height to live crown base (HCB) were measured for all living P. africana trees with Dbh > 10 cm within the 9 TSPs. Data collected were subjected to descriptive and bivariate correlation analysis. The trees were further classified based on their Crown ratio as high vigour (CR>0.50), moderate vigour (CR= 0.30-0.50) and low vigour (CR<0.30). The result revealed that CR had strong negative correlation with Ht and HCB. Tree diameter attributes showed low positive correlation with CR. However, about 69% of the trees are within moderate CR class and only 3% areof the low CRclass. This implies that majority of the P. africana species in the study area are of moderate and high vigour. Hence, appropriate silvicultural Treatment such as thinning is recommended for trees with CR <0.3 to ensure moderate, better stand stability and sustainability of the species benefits.Keywords: Correlation; Crown ratio; Economic trees; Tree growth characteristics; Prosopis african

Isolation, Identification and Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Public Health Threat Enteric Bacteria from Milk and Dairy Products Retail in Abakaliki, South-East, Nigeria

Milk and foods made from milk is manufactured into more stable dairy products of worldwide value, such as butter, cheese, ice cream, and yoghurt. Consumption of contaminated milk or dairy products by pathogens causes human gastrointestinal infection, which leads to diarrheal disease in human and hospitalization or death in severe cases especially among elderly and children. An assessment of milk and dairy products was designed to determine the microbiological quality of milk and dairy products consumed in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Culture techniques were used for isolation of enteric bacteria from retail dairy products and disk diffusion method were used to determine the Antibiotic Resistance profile of isolates. Bacteria pathogens isolated were characterized and identified using morphological and biochemical techniques. SPSS and Chi-square test were used for the analysis of the study, P-value of 0.02 indicates a significant difference between the bacteria pathogens counts. A total of 161 pathogenic bacteria were isolated from 100 dairy products. Salmonella spp heard (26.1%), Escherichia coli (44.1%) and Shigella spp. (29.8%). All identified isolates were found to be 100% susceptible to ciprofloxacin and gentamycin, with 66.7% for ofloxacin. Augmentin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol and spectinomycin was 100% resistant. Data obtained confirm that milk and dairy products retailed in Abakaliki pose a serious public health threat to consumers due to the presence of pathogenic bacteria. Standard and good storage conditions, as well as environmental and personnel hygiene should be practiced to prevent contamination of milk and dairy products for the safety of consumers

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. METHODS: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. FINDINGS: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). INTERPRETATION: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden

Theoretical Underpinnings of Trust Investment Law: Juxtaposing Nigerian Law with Current Trends in Other Common Law Jurisdictions

Over the centuries, common law jurists and scholars have propounded theories and principles which underpin the conduct of the investment duty of trustees. This article offers a comparative analysis of the theoretical underpinnings of trust investment law as applicable in Nigeria vis-a-vis the current trends in other jurisdictions. It concludes that the Nigerian law is hopelessly lagging behind and proffers recommendations for reform

The effect of different solvent polarity on the precipitation of heavy organics from a crude oil deposit in the Niger Delta

The precipitation of heavy organics (Saturates, Aromatics, Resins and Asphaltenes) from the Niger delta (Atan crude oil residue) was studied. Two C4 organic polar solvents (ethyl acetate and butanone) were used to investigate the effect of polarity of the precipitating solvents. The heavy organics precipitated from Antan crude residue were 3.34% and 3.76% for ethyl acetate and butanone respectively. Asphaltenes were precipitated from the heavy organic precipitates using n-C5 and n-C6 alkanes. Chromatographic separation and spectroscopic analysis of the deasphalted soluble filtrate were carried out. The results identified the presence of saturates, aromatics and resins in the C4 heavy organic precipitate.Key words: Heavy Organics, Precipitates, Saturates, Aromatics, Resins, Asphaltene

Creating universal resource locator links on library computers desktop: A panacea for students’ underutilization of subscribed electronic databases in academic institutions in Nigeria

97-105<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="" lang="EN-GB">This study is a 3-week experiment using Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU) Digital Library and clients as study area and population respectively. Having observed the problem of students and researchers underutilization of electronic databases subscribed by academic institutions in Nigeria, the research was aimed at testing students and researchers approach to a new method that may enhance usage of subscribed electronic databases and recommend it if positive. Dummy links, representing some of the Universal Resource Locators (URLs) of the databases subscribed by MOUAU were created as the desktop page of ten computers in the digital library. Designed purposively, a click on the dummy links referred clients to the librarian. The record of clients who reported to the Digital Librarian as a result of the dummy upload request was collated. Apart from finding that, gender, level of study and purpose of visit are electronic database utilization variables, the study reveals that creating URL links on desktop pages would effectively sensitize and increase students’ utilisation of the various electronic databases subscribed by individual Nigerian academic institutions. The experiment’s result show that URL links would effectively introduce subscribed electronic databases to students and researchers much better than any other means.</span

Evaluation of onchocerciasis using seroprevalence in some ivermectin treated Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, Nigeria

Kachia and Kagarko LGAs are among the LGAs that have been treated with Ivermectin consistently for 19 years according to the records of Kaduna State Ministry of Health. Hence this study was carried out to conduct an appraisal of these selected areas in order to determine its efficacy, longevity and corroborate or otherwise the issue of recrudescence of the disease. A cross sectional study was conducted in May, 2018 to investigate the prevalence of onchocerciasis in Kachia and Kagarko LGAs of Kaduna State, Nigeria. A total number of 208 participants were screened using SD Bioline onchocerciasis IgG4 kit from the two LGAs, 23 (11.1%) were found to be positive for IgG4 antibodies to O. volvulus. Result of the Chi square analyzes showed that there were no significant association between sex and seroprevalence (X2=0.377, df=1, p=0.593), LGAs and seroprevalence (X2=1.119, df=1, p=0.290, CI=95%) however, a significant association between age and seroprevalence (X2=13.408, df=5, p=0.020) was recorded. Occupationally, the LGAs had a significant association (X2=14.420, df=4, p=0.006). In Kachia LGA, there was equally a significant association (X2=10.848, df=4, p=0.028) while, in Kagarko there was no significant association (X2=5.866, df =4, p=0.209) in the seroprevalence. Significant&nbsp; association was equally recorded between seroprevalence and compliance to ivermectin in Kachia (X2=27.419, df=1, p=0.05) and Kagarko (X2=33.269, df=1, p=0.05). Conclusively, there was&nbsp; reduction in Onchocerca infection due to adherence to ivermectin intake by the inhabitants. Therefore, regular surveillance of endemic areas is to be carried out promptly in order to ensure compliance to prescribed annual ivermectin dosage and identify and treat infected individual