Power, Participation, and Private Regulatory Initiatives: Human Rights Under Supply Chain Capitalism (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2021) Edited by Daniel Brinks, Julia Dehm, Karen Engle and Kate Taylor

Book revie

Resource abundance and the dilemma of fiscal federalism in Nigeria

This article examines the complexities around fiscal federalism in Nigeria within the framework of the resource curse thesis. Nigeria is an oil-rich federation yet governments at all levels perform poorly. State governments continually experience fiscal gap and deficiency in service delivery. Not only that, the vast majority of the citizens live under the twin burden of poverty and unemployment. The inability of the Nigerian state to address these challenges, despite the huge oil revenue, contributes to the continuous debates over the value of the country's fiscal system. The article contributes to the understanding of how Nigeria's oil-centric economy shapes the fiscal system. It argues that the failure of oil resources to generate economic prosperity in the states is rooted in the flawed fiscal system that encourages the sharing of the oil wealth rather than economic production at the state level. The article recommends a more functional fiscal federalism that would recognise the fiscal autonomy of the tiers of government. That is, a fiscal system with less reliance on the centrally-generated oil revenue

Analyses of Land and Housing Price Inflation in Nigeria, A Study of Federal Capital Territory Abuja from 1999 to 2009

The aim of this study is to critically considered inflation in the prices of land and housing in the Abuja property market from 1999 to 2009, and it is limited to residential property in the phase one of the Abuja property market. This research work was carried out to determine if actually there has been a persistence increase in the prices of residential accommodation in the study area, and also to determine the factors responsible for such increase. Data for the study were collected through observations, personal interviews, and library studies. The data so collected were analyzed using measures of central tendency, graphs and simple percentage table. The result of the study shows that there is inflation in the Abuja property market within the period under investigation. It also shows that the prices of land and housing are increasing at an average inflation rate of 50.1% for lease property and 39.3% for sale property. The work thus recommended the following: that the Government should provide mortgage insurance to first time home buyers who do not have credit history and to low-to middle income families  in  order  to  achieve  our  aim  of  providing affordable housing; the Federal government should de-centralize government offices from the city centre to other parts of the state to help reduce the demand of land and housing in the study area, in effect reducing the continuous-increase in the prices of land and housing, as people will have to shift to take abode in residential properties close to their offices; the government should go into mass housing development and also corporate with private developers in a bid to make different types of residential housing units available, thereby increasing the supply of the housing unit to meet demand for them. This will help reduce the continuous increase in the housing prices. Keywords: Land, Housing and Price Inflation

Facility Management in Educational Institutions: A Study of Nnamdi Azkiwe University Awka

This study evaluated the facilities available at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka with a view to making recommendations for effective management and efficient service through: identifying the facilities available in the school,  measuring their efficiency and effective management of these facilities through data collection from the inhabitants, analyzing the data so obtained and drawing inference from them. The Facilities investigated includes: Electricity Supply Facilities, Water Supply Facilities, Hostels and Library. The study adopted a questionnaire survey method to sample the opinion of students inhabiting the school hostels. It was found that although some facilities were provided, the quantity provided is adequate and mostly ill maintained for two possible reasons; acute growth in population and lack of funds. The conditions of the available facilities are below standard and even were up to standard, they were considerably below the required capacity. It was also discovered that on individual opinion for each facility analyzed, the number of respondents who think that the facilities management operations need to be improved are a lot higher than those who do not. The study thus recommended that for the empowerment of facilities management in the university and the country as a whole; Formal training in facilities management should in incorporated in various tertiary institutions with necessary inputs from key staff organizations that have applied facilities management principles and theories; as funds are set aside for procurement of facilities, provision also be made for the efficient management of the facilities; better planning techniques should be adopted by the facilities managers, with this misappropriation of funds made available for facilities development and management will be avoided

Protective role of Phyllantus niruri extract on serum lipid profiles and oxidative stress in hepatocytes of diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus has been associated with lipid abnormalities and oxidative stress. Some phytochemical properties have been shown to possess antioxidant activities, improving the effects of oxidative stress on diabetes. This present investigations confirmed that untreated diabetic rats were associated with lipid abnormalities as indicated by high levels of total- and LDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols and low levels of HDL-cholesterol and phospholipids, compared to non-diabetic rats(control). The aqueous extract of Phyllanthus niruri significantly normalized the serum lipids levels. The study also showed that untreated diabetic rats were subjected to oxidative stress as indicated by significantly abnormal activities of their scavenging enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase and significantly low levels of non-enzymic antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E and reduced glutathione) in liver and plasma when compared with controls and in the extent of lipid peroxidation (increased malondialdehyde levels) in plasma and liver cells. The aqueous extract of P. niruri possessedantioxidant activities as shown by increased activities of enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants and decrease in malondialdehyde levels

Acceptance of malaria vaccine by a rural community in Nigeria

Background: Introduction of malaria vaccine is imminent. This study evaluated the prevalence of malaria among a non-febrile population and their willingness to accept a malaria vaccine.Methods: This was a cross-sectional, community-based study done in a rural community in south east Nigeria. A total of 156 household heads were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was pre-tested before commencement of the study to correct ambiguity.Results: Majority (78.2%) acknowledged that malaria is the commonest illness in the community, while 55.1% believed that presumptive treatment is the best malaria preventive measure. Most (98.7%) of the study participants immunized their children against childhood vaccine preventable diseases, while 91.6% would be willing to accept a malaria vaccine. The prevalence of malaria parasitaemia among non-febrile respondents was 35.4% and the use of mosquito nets was 17.9%.Conclusion: The high prevalence of malaria among non-febrile populations, the practice of presumptive treatment of unconfirmed fever as malaria preventive measure and the low use of bed nets, points that it is time to introduce malaria vaccine. The high willingness to receive the vaccine is positive to the introduction of the vaccine.Keywords; Acceptance; Malaria, Vaccine, Nigeria

Oxidative stress and non-enzymic antioxidant status in hypertensive patients in Nigeria

Oxidative stress and non-enzymic antioxidant status in plasma of hypertensive patients in Nigeria were investigated. One hundred and fifty hypertensive patients (82 males and 68 females) age range 55 – 75 years visiting Federal Medical Centre, Owerri were selected for the study. Controls were 120 apparently healthy subjects (66 males and 54 females) age range 55 -75 years. Patients with complication such as renal diseases, viral and bacterial infections were excluded from the study. In The hypertensive patients presented significantly higher mean values of plasma total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerolsand reduced HDL-cholesterol and phospholipids (p < 0.05). The result of plasma lipid peroxide was significantly higher in hypertensive patients (p < 0.05). Also the levels of non-enzymic antioxidantssuch as Vitamin C, vitamin E and reduced glutathione in plasma were significantly depleted in the hypertensive patients (p < 0.05). This study shows that hypertension is associated with increasedoxidative stress and depleted non-enzymic antioxidant status even in developing countries like Nigeria

Isolation, Characterization, and Assessment of the In Vitro Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties of Methanol Extracts and Friedelan-3-one from Uapaca ambanjensis (Leandri)

Uapaca ambanjensis Leandri (Phyllanthaceae) is a largely un-researched plant whose crushed stem bark, leaf, and fruit infusions are ethno-medicinally claimed to cure typhoid fever, other fevers, skin diseases, and stroke. This work aimed at the isolation, characterization, and determination of antimicrobial potency of the methanol stem-bark extracts of Uapaca ambanjensis.&nbsp; Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, steroids and triterpenes in the methanol extract. The antimicrobial assessment of the extract against Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Klebisiela pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger showed the diameter of zones of inhibition (ZOI) ranging from 11 to 18 mm at a concentration of 12.5mg/mL to 100mg/mL, with most prominent activities against S. aureus, S. typhi and P. aeruginosa. Chromatographic fractionation and purification led to the isolation of a pentacyclic triterpenoid (friedelan-3-one) labeled G23f-9. The compound showed antimicrobial potency evidenced by zones of inhibition against S. aureus (20 mm), S. typhi (16 mm), S. pyogenes (14 mm), K. pneumoniae (13 mm), and P. aeruginosa (13 mm) at a concentration of 100 µg/mL while the values for the standard drug, Ciprofloxacin, at 10 µg/mL are respectively 24 mm, 20 mm, 27 mm`1,20mm and 18mm. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) were 12.5 µg/mL for S. aureus, 25 µg/mL for S. typhi and 100 µg/mL for the rest while the Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MBC) were 50 µg/mL for S. aureus and 100 µg/mL for S. typhi. The isolated compound showed some antifungal activity against C. albicans with ZOI of 11 mm at 100µg/mL while the antifungal drug, Terbinafine, gave 30 mm at 30 µg/mL. Phytochemical and antimicrobial results lay credence to some ethnomedicinal claims on the plant including its use to treat typhoid fever and some skin diseases. The biological assessment of the methanol extract and isolated compound reveals that the plant could have antibacterial and antifungal potentials. The isolation of Friedelan-3-one is reported for the first time from the plant U. ambanjensis Leandri

Intensification and diversification of banana production systems: key drivers for increased income and food and nutritional security in the Great Lakes region

Peer Revie

Pattern and Determinants of Antiretroviral Drug Adherence among Nigerian Pregnant Women

Background. The need for a high level of adherence to antiretroviral drugs has remained a major hurdle to achieving maximal benefit from its use in pregnancy. This study was designed to determine the level of adherence and identify factors that influence adherence during pregnancy. Method. This is a cross-sectional study utilizing a semistructured questionnaire. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression models were used to determine factors independently associated with good drug adherence during pregnancy. Result. 137 (80.6%) of the interviewed 170 women achieved adherence level of ≥95% using 3 day recall. The desire to protect the unborn child was the greatest motivation (51.8%) for good adherence. Fear of being identified as HIV positive (63.6%) was the most common reason for nonadherence. Marital status, disclosure of HIV status, good knowledge of ART, and having a treatment supporter were found to be significantly associated with good adherence at bivariate analysis. However, after controlling for confounders, only HIV status disclosure and having a treatment partner retained their association with good adherence. Conclusion. Disclosure of HIV status and having treatment support are associated with good adherence. Maternal desire to protect the child was the greatest motivator for adherence