Rethinking the 1999 Constitution within Recent Dynamics of Nigeria’s National Security: Indigene-Settler Crisis in Jos, Plateau State in Focus

This study examined the contradictions of indigeneity-based citizenship as provided in the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, through the lens of the dynamics of Jos indigene-settler crisis since 2001. While it is given that there is merit in the constitutional definition of membership of component states of the country in terms of indigeneity, this study contends that the definition is unjust and bedeviled with gaps and contradictions, thus, there is a need to rethink this Constitution for a possible normative alternative. This study proposed that a constitutional re-engineering that will foster and promote the entrenchment of shared national institutions and common bonds as possessing normative weight to mitigate the conflicts. Also, that co-nationals domicile in Jos ought not to be subjected to foreign treatment as provided for by the Constitution. Consequently, the study submits that residency in plateau state and any of the states in Nigeria should be sufficient to access and claim membership of the state. Thus, the dysfunctional structural template, which the 1999 Constitution represents in its provisions, as in this regard created the indigene-settler dichotomy stoking the crisis in Jos and it requires a re-think that will galvanise a re-engineering to accommodate residency rights and also specifically prevent the possible mariginalisation of the minorities. Keywords: The 1999 Constitution, National Security, Indigene-settle

Intraference in the Nominal Expressions of Educated Nigerian Users of English

Intraference is used in this paper as a more economical for Selinker s overgeneralization of linguistic materials and semantic features Richards and Sampson s intralingual interference and Labov s internal principle of linguistic change Library research questionnaires and the record of live linguistic events by educated Nigerians were used to gather data from 2004 to 2013 with a view to establishing morphemic intraference variations between ENEm and SBE It was found that educated Nigerians overstretch plurality rule redeploy affixes clip and blend to fabricate lexical items that may not be found in SBE and standard dictionaries These morphological features which are not necessarily vulgar errors of ignorance but the outcomes of creativity and level of competence engendered by some psycho-sociolinguistic dynamics distinguish ENE from SBE and American Englis

Enhancing Agricultural Productivity in Nigeria Using a PPFApp Approach

Nigeria is a nation that is naturally blessed with both natural and human resources. However, the country is challenged with high rate of unemployment; even one of her economic sectors that is viable, which can greatly assist the growth of the economy is not receiving an adequate attention. This sector (Agricultural sector) couple with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) could help reduce the problem of unemployment and low agricultural produce to a bearable minimum. This paper proposes an integration of ICT into Agriculture by developing a mobile application known as Poultry and Piggery Farm application (PPFA) on android platform for livestock disease management (Poultry and Piggery). Sqlite was used to create the database for different diseases, likely symptoms and their respective clinical treatment. Java Programming language was employed for the creation of the interactive interface. The application was developed with Android Studio on Linux Fedora box, the hardware used was 8gb RAM, and 1Terabyte hardware. The application was deployed and tested on android 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 jelly bean and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Keywords: Agriculture, ICT, PPFA, Nigeri

Case-Detection Rate of Direct Sputum Smear Microscopy for Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Abia State, Nigeria

The accuracy of sputum smear microscopy, the tuberculosis case-finding method in the Abia State TB Control Programme has never been assessed due to lack of culture facilities. To assess the accuracy of sputum smear microscopy in routine control programme conditions in Abia State, sputum samples from patients undergoing investigation for tuberculosis were analyzed using Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique for sputum smear  microscopy and culture on Löwenstein-Jensen medium as reference standard. Out of 150 participants tested, 51 were smear –positive for acid fast bacilli (positivity rate, 34.0 %, 51/150) while 79 were culture positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and 12 for non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Thirty-seven of the 79 culture positive for M. tuberculosis were smear positive giving a ratio of smear to culture positivity of 46.84%. Forty-two (42.4%) of the 99 smear negative cases were culture positive for M. tuberculosis. The sensitivity of smear microscopy was 50.0%(95%CI=39.0-61.0) and specificity was 92.3% (95% CI=86.4-98.2). The prevalence of HIV/TB coinfection among the study participants was 48% (12/25). Although the case- detection rate of smear microscopy was moderate in this study, the large proportion of TB patients missed by smear microscopy is a cause for concern and requires concerted effort to improve the sensitivity of smear microscopy. Introduction of more sensitive diagnostic methods like culture also need to be considered. La précision des frottis, la méthode la recherche de cas de tuberculose  dans le programme de lutte contre la tuberculose dans l’Etat d'Abia n'a jamais été évalué en raison du manque d'installations de culture. Pour évaluer la précision des frottis dans les conditions du programme de  contrôle de routine dans cet Etat , les expectorations de patients subissant une enquête de la tuberculose ont été analysées à l'aide de technique de coloration de Ziehl-Neelsen pour la microscopie des frottis de crachats etde la culture sur milieu de Löwenstein- Jensen en tant que norme de  référence . Sur les 150 participants testés, 51 étaient à frottis positif pour les bacilles acido rapide (taux de positivité, 34,0%, 51/150), tandis que 79 étaient positifs à la culture pour complexe Mycobacterium tuberculosis et 12 pour les mycobactéries non tuberculeuses (NTM). Trente-sept de la culture 79 positive pour M.tuberculosis étaient à frottis positif donnant un ratio de frottis de positivité de la culture de 46,84 %. Quarante-deux  (42,4%) des 99 cas à frottis négatifs étaient positifs à la culture pour M. tuberculosis. La sensibilité de la microscopie des frottis était de 50,0 % (IC à 95% = 39,0 à 61,0) et la spécificité était de 92,3 % (IC à 95% = 86,4 à 98,2). La prévalence du VIH / TB coïnfection parmi les participants à l'étude était de 48% (12 /25). Bien que le taux de microscopique des  frottis de dépistage des cas ait été modéré dans cette étude, la forte proportion de patients atteints de tuberculose manqués par examen microscopique des frottis est un sujet préoccupant et exige un effort concerté pour améliorer la sensibilité de la microscopie des frottis. La présentation des méthodes de diagnostic plus sensibles comme la culture doivent aussi être pris en considération

Biosynthesis of the protoberberine alkaloid jatrorrhizine

Feeding experiments with distant single or doubly labelled precursors show that the methylene dioxy group of berberine is opened in the formation of jatrorrhizine

Evaluation of Physical and Mechanical Properties of Selected Wood Species obtained from Saw Mills in Akure, Nigeria

The strength and sorption properties of selected wood species obtained from saw mills in Akure Nigeria were investigated based on key index properties such as density, bending strength and dimensional stability using appropriate standard experimental techniques. Data obtained from the experimental investigation revealed that the wood species ranged from low density 442.8 kg/m3 for Terminalia superba (Afara), through medium density 464 kg/m3 and 552.8 kg/m3 for Pycnanthus angolensis (Akomu) and Gmelina arborea (Gmelina) respectively, to high density 635.7kg/m3 and 678.2 kg/m3 for Milicia excelsa (Iroko) and Stereospermum acuminatissimum (Omo cedar) respectively. The bending strength values obtained qualified the wood species classification into low bending strength (25 N/mm2 – 75 N/mm2 ) for Afara, Akomu and Gmelina and the medium static bending strength in the range (75 N/mm2 – 125 N/mm2) for Iroko and Omo cedar. Furthermore, results of volumetric shrinkage and swelling are 7.21%: 5.04%, 7.75%: 5.26% and 7.84%: 6.69% for Afara, Akomu and Gmelina respectively while Iroko and Omo cedar recorded 10.95%: 7.84% and 11.08%: 11.08%. These updated results could be useful for wood selection for building construction application; for structural members in roofing, posts and beams

Assessing Issues in Constitutional and Institutional Principles for Managing Inter-Group Relations in Nigeria: The Federal Character Principle and Power Sharing Formula in Focus

The Nigerian state has been bedeviled with the challenge of managing its convoluted and discombobulated inter-group relationship. Governments in Nigeria have deployed certain principles to manage the nation’s heterogeneous ethnic composition. Therefore, the thrust of this paper is an appraisal of the institutional and public policy mechanisms put in place to integrate the convoluting federal system. The paper is divided into a number of sections. With an introductory overview, the paper proceeds to dwell on the contending paradigms in the extant literature on constitutional and institutional principles deployed to manage the plural and deeply divided Nigerian state. The study went on to analyse the provisions of quota system and federal character principle as enshrined in the constitution on management of inter-group relations in a Nigeria. The study further examined how this constitutional principle has helped since returning to democratic rule in 1999 how beleaguered the polity has been since then. The study also critique the problem associated with this principle and infers with the observation that federal character principles and other similar accommodative and integrative policies in our institutional designs have been directed mainly at the elite, ignoring the masses of the people simply because this approach is more hinged on Western bourgeoisie theory of social stability and elite stability, not institutional or state stability. Whereas, the masses of the people too; needs to be targeted for conflict resolution when crafting the principles of law to address the problem. This study’s ultimate conclusion and recommendation of this article therefore is that the federal character principle in our constitution needs to be rejigged to actually meet the need of the masses of the people for it to achieve communal stability which is badly required in the Nigerian state today. Keywords: Constitutional and Institutional Principles, Inter-group Relations, Federal Character Principle, Power Sharing Formul

HEAVY METALS IN THE MYONEMATIC, HEPATIC AND RENAL TISSUES OF THE AFRICAN CAT FISH (Clarias gariepinus) FROM OGBA RIVER, BENIN CITY, NIGERIA.

The concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Cr and As) in the myonematic, hepatic and renal tissues of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) from Ogba river, Benin City, Nigeria, were determined using a Unicam 929 series atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The concentrations of the aforementioned metals were also determined in water. The mean concentration of Pb ranged from 0.19mg/kg (muscle) to 0.39mg/kg (liver) while the mean concentration of Cd ranged from 0.03mg/kg (muscle) to 0.09mg/kg (liver). The mean concentration of Zn ranged from 0.09mg/kg( muscle) to 0.33mg/kg (liver) while the mean concentration of Cu ranged from 0.23mg/kg (muscle) to 0.76mg/kg(liver). The mean concentration of Cr ranged from 0.19mg/kg (muscle) to 0.41mg/kg (liver) while the mean concentration of As ranged from 0.36mg/kg (kidney) to 0.54mg/kg (muscle). The mean concentrations of the heavy metals in water were Pb(0.09mg/l), Cd(0.04mg/l), Zn(0.01mg/l), Cu(0.53mg/l), Cr(0.38mg/l) and As(0.59mg/l). With the exception of Cu, the mean concentrations of the heavy metals in water were generally above the World Health Organization (WHO) maximum allowable limit for the respective metals in drinking water implying that water from the river is unfit for human consumption owing to heavy metal contamination. The mean concentrations of Cr and As exceeded the WHO maximum allowable limits for fish food. The direct implication of this finding is that people who consume fish from the river are liable to potential health hazards resulting from Cr and As contamination.Â

Effective Supervision of Instruction in Nigerian Secondary Schools: Issues, Challenges and the Way Forward.

Every organisation either corporate or otherwise including the school exists essentially to achieve certain stated objectives. There is no way the goals and objectives of an organisation can be achieved without putting in place certain mechanisms towards ensuring its success. In the school system, one of the mechanisms to be put in place towards achieving the goals of the school is supervision. This paper therefore examined the meaning of supervision, instructional supervision and the role of supervisor. The paper also, examined major challenges of instructional supervision in secondary schools and the way forward. Recommendations were made on how to ensure effective supervision of instruction in secondary schools. Keywords: Supervision, Instructional supervision and Secondary education