Investigating Oil Prices and Exchange Rates Nexus in Nigeria: ARDL Approach

This paper examined the long-run association of real exchange rates, real oil prices, interest rate, inflation and external debt in Nigeria. It used monthly data for the period, 1980-2017. The model employed in the study started with testing for the existence of unit roots which were found to be combination of orders I(0) and I(1), fulfilling the ARDL condition. Also, using various cointegration tests, the study reveals that cointegration exists among the selected variables. The granger causality test found that oil price positively and significantly impacted exchange rates in Nigeria, suggesting that a rise in global oil prices resulted into exchange rate appreciation. In a similar way, increases in oil prices triggered inflation. In view of this, it is suggested that appropriate policy measure be considered during oil price increases to mitigate unfavourable movement in exchange rates

Creation of Central National Database in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects

This paper focuses on the creation of central national database based on Entity Relationship (ER) data model in order to describe each person individually and uniquely.  Also, the model establishes the use of the unique code (National Security code) as the primary key to identify each entity, entity relationship within and among public services entities.  Presently, Nigeria is critically facing security challenges because people are not uniquely identified and tagged.  The situation has led to insecurity in Nigeria with different trends and dimensions from one geopolitical zone to the other.  For instance, this has led to various faceless activities such as Islamic sect called Boko Haram in the North, rampant armed robbery in the South-West, notorious robbery and kidnapping in the South-East and South-South.  Corruption and unemployment are all over.  To curb the menace, a central national residency database must be created to solving identity challenge, loose neighboring borders, sectional terrorist, corruption, Crime and criminalities, unemployment, poverty and leadership distrust.  The paper recommends how the government can achieve central coordination of national security and attitudinal change of the country men despite the prevailing security challenge. Key-words: Central National Database, Data, National Security code, Entity Relationship (ER), Utilities, Residency code, Enforcement, National security, Attitudinal change JEL Classification: C82, M15, O3

Effects of Pre-induction Administration of Allium Sativum on Some Biochemical Parameters in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of pre- and post- administration of garlic extract on serum glucose and some biochemical parameters in alloxan-induced diabetic rats to show the preventive and ameliorating effects in alloxan induced-diabetic rats. Rats were divided into 4 groups; normal control rats, diabetic control rats, diabetic rats post-treated with garlic extract and rats pre-treated with garlic extract before induction. Garlic extract was administered orally for 2 weeks to post-treated rats and 3 weeks to pre-treated rats and they were compared with the normal and diabetic groups, respectively. Serum glucose was reduced significantly in both post-treated and pre-treated groups. The post-treatment with garlic extract reduced serum cholesterol, but pre-treatment with garlic extract produced significant change compare to the diabetic control. The serum creatinine and urea levels were significantly reduced in post-treated group and pretreated group compare to the diabetic control group. It is concluded that the consumption of garlic produced a significant hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic effects in diabetic rats and also, garlic is capable of protecting the liver and the kidney functions in alloxan-induced diabetic rats as shown in the activities of serum enzymes and other biochemical parameters examined

Evaluation of Cyanogen Contents of Cassava and Cassava Based Food Products in Karu, Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria

Cyanogen contents of seven most consumed cassava based food products in Nasarawa state were evaluated using the alkaline picrate method. These products were subjected to different processing methods such as peeling, washing, grating, fermentation, drying/dewatering, milling/pulvering and frying. The analyses showed reduction in cyanogens contents ranging from 56.33% to 89.58% compare to raw cassava tubers from which they were all produced. These results also showed that cassava processing methods in which fermentation is involved in the multistep processing stages greatly reduced cyanogen contents of the cassava. However, these processing methods did not remove all the cyanogen from the cassava products but reduced it below 10 ppm, recommended by the World Health Organization as safe limit, suggesting that the cassava underwent proper processing to produce safe products. Consumption of these products will not lead to the lethal dose of 35 mg hydrocyanic acid per kg body weight reported by some authors, hence marketing and consumption of these products should be promoted and efforts made to improve the processing methods to further reduce the cyanogen contents of the products

Analysis of Potassium Bromate and Hydrocyanic Acid Contents of Commonly Consumed Loaves of Bread and Wheat Flour Samples In Karu,Nasarawa State, Nigeria

The potassium bromate and hydrocyanic acid contents in commonly consumed fourteen loaves of bread and four most popular wheat flour brands among the bakers in Karu local government of Nasarawa state, Nigeria were assessed for potassium bromate and hydrocyanic acid contents. Potassium bromate in bread samples analyzed ranged between 0.5μg/g to 8.4μg/g and 0.83μg/g to 1.42μg/g in wheat flour samples. The hydrocyanic acid contents of the bread and wheat flour samples analyzed ranged between 1.510 to 3.676 mg/1000g and 0.706 to 1.498 mg/1000g sample respectively. These results implied that all the loaves of bread and wheat flour brands analysed contained potassium bromate in high quantity above safe level for human consumption and various amount of hydrocyanic acid which however, will not lead to the lethal dose of 35 mg hydrocyanic acid per kg body weight but there is need for continuous surveillance and enforcement of the ban on the use of potassium bromate in baking industry in this study area by NAFDAC

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science EFFECTS OF NIGERIAN MARKET STORAGE CONDITIONS ON ASCORBIC ACID CONTENTS OF SELECTED TETRAPAK PACKAGED CITRUS FRUIT JUICE

ABSTRACT The effect of Nigerian market storage conditions on ascorbic acid, titratable acidity and pH values of selected tetrapak packaged citrus fruit juice in Nigerian markets were studied with increasing shelf life (storage time). Six different brands of tetrapak packaged citrus fruit juice were selected for this study after a market survey of tetrapak packaged citrus fruit juice commercially available in Nigerian markets. The selection was made to reflect brands that are readily available in the markets and frequently consumed. Selected samples have the same packaging materials, close manufacturing date and similar compositions. A typical Nigerian market condition was imitated during the research with the average maximum and minimum temperature of the storage being 28 ±5°C and Relative humidity of 75 + 5% with less ventilated room. The analyses of the samples were carried out from 3 months to 10 months from the day of production. The results showed that there was gradual decrease in ascorbic acid contents and pH values with increase in storage period irrespective of the brands but at different rate depending on the brand while there was increase in total titratable acidity after storage for 10 months at ambient room temperature. Therefore, the effect of market storage conditions should be considered in production process and there should be proper education of the traders and consumers on proper storage procedure to minimize the ascorbic acid loss during storage and finally, nutritional labels must be printed on the container showing: best before date, storage conditions and nutritional facts to ensures adequate monitoring of the quality