Developing Nigeria’s Border Paradigm: The Panacea for National Security, Socio-Economic and Political Development

The complex terrain of Nigeria’s borders and neglects of border settlements in terms of the provisions and availability of basic amenities; encouraged the frontier dwellers to cross the international boundary seeking for some of the basic necessities of life. This made them vulnerable of being attacked by aliens and terrorists; easily recruited and co-opted by criminals from either of the borders; compelled to engage or aid trans-border crimes as well as providing hiding place for some unscrupulous elements in the society or face the wrath of the syndicates and traffickers. This Library research established that, neglecting the border regions and the porosity of our international boundary has fuelled the current security challenges confronting the nation. The paper recommends the total checkmating of activities at the border region; provision of basic/necessary materials for the dwellers of border towns and the boosting of international collaboration by countries sharing the common border against illicit traffickers as the panacea for national security, socio-economic and political development.   Keywords: Panacea, Boundary Development, Trans-border, Frontie

Structural, morphological and optical properties of (ZnO)ₓ (ZrO2)ַ₁˗ₓnanocomposites prepared by thermal treatment method

The purpose of this study was to investigate the constituents of nanomaterial that was made from zinc nitrate, zirconia nitrate and polyvinyl pyrrolidone, which is assumed as classification of novel materials. The unique product obtained through the thermal treatment process containing the zinc oxide and zirconia oxide nanocomposites as well as organic polymer. This product possesses better characteristics as compared to their nanosizes. So, the binary oxide of the nanocomposite (Zinc oxide (ZnO)) x (Zirconia oxide (ZrO2)) 1-x at constant concentration of 4g polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was calcined at various temperature that was produced with thermal treatment process. Zinc and Zirconium nitrates as well as PVP (capping agent) was used to produce nanocomposite materials (ZnO) x (ZrO2)1-x s for x = 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 molarity. To ensure the best yield, the characterization has been performed. Thermal analysis (TGA), gave the optimization of the thermal treatment technique and show the appropriate temperature to carry out the calcination process. The crystallinity of the sample was measured by using X – ray diffraction (XRD). Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis proved that ZnO and ZrO2 were the original compounds for the prepared nanocomposite (ZnO) X (ZrO2) 1-X. However, the morphological characterization was determined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and were supported by XRD results. It showed the increment of the average sample sizes from 21 – 40 nm due to the increment of calcination temperature. Ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) determine the gap of optical path and decreased the values for both nanocomposite ZnO and ZrO2. Photoluminescence (PL) displayed the increment of intensity when the particle size was increased. The study also showed the application of optical in the binary particle application with the wider nano size (ZnO)x (ZrO2)1-x as a novel functional material. The varying calcination temperature has control over the (ZnO)x (ZrO2)1-X particle sizes by the permission of this method, so the generation of semiconductor materials with multiple band gap is possible. Detailed wavelengths of solar energy can be captured by these materials, which can be an appropriate choice for employment of solar cell applications