Urban Residential Energy Demand Modeling in Developing Countries: A Nigerian Case Study

An econometric model is used to estimate urban residential electricity demand in Nigeria. The model uses residential energy demand data from 1975 to 2005. Shortcomings of the econometric model are highlighted, and system dynamics modeling is proposed as a complement to the econometric approach. It is suggested that this hybrid approach comprising econometric techniques and system dynamics may lead to better energy demand forecasting in developing countries

ICRC’s Responses to the Challenges of Humanitarian Assistance during Armed Conflicts

Today, it is beyond polemics that the conduct of humanitarian assistance is facing serious consequences. Worldwide, those involved in providing humanitarian aid to the victims of armed conflicts are matter-of-factly doing so under operational challenges which are hampering their humanitarian activities. While these facts are true about the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), they equally raise the question about its ability to fulfil its mission of humanitarian assistance to the victims of armed conflicts. As a result of this, the present article examines the meaning and background to the ICRC’s humanitarian assistance; the rules of international humanitarian law (IHL) on humanitarian assistance during armed conflicts. Also, the article considers the humanitarian activities of the ICRC to the victims of armed conflicts around the world; the major challenges which underlie such activities and the ways in which the organisation is responding to these dire challenges. The article ends with the conclusion that despite massive constraints, the need arises, than before, for the ICRC to be more responsive to the challenges of humanitarian assistance in the world. This is with the view to guaranteeing the future of humanitarian assistance during armed conflicts, whether international or non-international in character

Influence of Natural and Anthropogenic Factors on the Effects of Climate Change Induced Heat in Lokoja Urban Centre

The debilitating effects of climate change are wreaking significant havoc in different parts of the world, a situation that is aggravated by natural and anthropogenic factors. This work sought to establish the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors on the effects of climate change induced heat in Lokoja urban centre and the objective is to identify the natural and manmade factors that aggravate the vulnerability of Lokoja urban centre to the effects of heat occasioned by climate change. The survey research method was used for the study with the administration of 800 copies of questionnaire for data gathering. The data was analyzed and the hypothesis tested using the stepwise regression analysis. The analysis revealed that there are natural and anthropogenic factors that aggravate the vulnerability of Lokoja to the effects of climate change. The natural factor is the location of Lokoja between River Niger and the Patti ridge, while the anthropogenic factors are; percentage built up area and hard surfaces resulting from roads, buildings and concrete pavements. As part of ations, it is posited that the overcrowding of building sites with buildings and hard surfaces like concrete paving and interlocking tiles should be discouraged through the enforcement of existing building density regulations and by laws that provide more open spaces within residential/commercial development/compounds in order to effectively control the increase of hard surfaces thereby reducing Land Surface Temperature (LST) within the study area. Keywords: climate change, natural factors, anthropogenic factors, heat

Effects of Different Strategies Adopted by Rural Women on their Food Security in Oyo State

The study assessed the effects of different strategies adopted by rural women on their food securityin Oyo State. Multistage sampling procedure was adopted for this research work. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binomial logit model. Majority (93.5 percent) of the sampled women were married, while 6.5 percent of them were widowed. The mean age was 49 years. Backyard farming (= -1.000333343) had a negative but significant relationship to household food insecurity while reduction of meals (= 1.312270792) had a positive and significant relationship to household food insecurity. It was recommended that, program aimed at reducing poverty should be implemented in other to ensure that households were able to afford adequate mealsalso; backyard farming should be encouraged among rural women

Influencing factors of unmet needs for child spacing among selected countries experiencing high maternal-mortality in sub-Saharan Africa

Background: Maternal complication and death have implicated unintended pregnancy. The indicator for measuring the risk of unintended pregnancy is unmet need for family planning (FP). It is necessary to explore the current situation of unmet need for child spacing (UNCS) as well as its influencing factors among countries that are experiencing high maternal mortality ratio. We aimed to unveil the prevalence of UNCS and its associated factors in Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone.Methods: We analysed the data from DHS phase VII survey, a cross- sectional study conducted from year 2017 to 2018 across several countries. Total records of 25,539, 5,553, and 10,050 were extracted for Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone respectively. Explored variables were UNCS, demographic characteristics and husband’s partners profile. Data was analysed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics, test of association (chi-square) and binary logistic regression were used during the data analysis (α0.05).Results: UNCS was high in Nigeria (15.9%), Liberia (22.5%) and Sierra Leone (21.9%). In Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone, 40%, 37% and 49.1% were uneducated respectively. The proportion of married women were 89% in Nigeria, 32% in Liberia and 70.2% in Sierra Leone. Also, female headship of household (OR: 1.29, 95%CI: 1.09-1.54) was associated with UNCS relative to male headship of household.Conclusions: UNCS was high in the three countries. Factors like educational status of women, age, as well as women as head of the households should be given much attention in the efforts to reduce UNCS as identified in this study

Conservation and Biodiversity Erosion in Ondo State, Nigeria: (4). Assessing Botanicals Used in the Cure of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Owo Region

A combination of social survey and direct field observation was used to assess the botanicals used in the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases in Owo region of Ondo State, Nigeria. A total of 33 belonging to 28 families were identified, 14 of which were found to be rare on the abundance scale used in the study. The need for the conservation of these species was stressed

Exercise-induced bronchospasm and its associated factors among secondary school students in an urban community

Introduction: Exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) is a transient narrowing of the airway that usually occurs shortly after exercise. It occurs commonly in people with asthma; however EIB has also been reported in individuals without clinical asthma. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with EIB among secondary school students. Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional school- based study involving secondary school students aged between 10 and 17 years without previous history of asthma. Subjects undertook a six-minute running test, spirometry was done and the best of three FEV1 readings were obtained pre-exercise, at 5, 10, 15 and 30 minutes post exercise. The diagnosis of EIB was made when there was a decrease in FEV1 of ≥10% from baseline after exercise. Results: Of the 265participants studied, 34 (12.8%) had EIB at 5 minutes post exercise. EIB was significantly more in the 10–13 years age group (χ2 = 18.416, p = <0.001), there was no significant gender difference. The presence of allergic (vernal) conjunctivitis and rhinitis were both significantly associated with the development of EIB (χ2 = 13.574, p < 0.001 and 0.011 respectively). There was no significant association with previous history of wheeze and exposure to indoor air pollution such as cooking with biomass fuel and parental cigarette smoking. Conclusion: EIB exist among non-asthmatic school children, and it is more frequent in the early adolescent age-group. Students with allergic conjunctivitis and rhinitis are more likely to manifest exercise induced bronchospasm

Partial replacement of fish meal by earthworm meal (Libyodrilus violaceus) in diets for African catfish, Clarias gariepinus

A seven-week feeding trial was conducted to examine the possibility of replacing fish meal with earthworm meal in the diets of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus fry. Fish meal protein was replaced by earthworm meal at 0% (D0); 15% (D15); 25% (D25); 35% (D35); and 50% (D50). The diets were isonitrogenous (54%) and fed thrice daily to triplicate groups of African catfish fry at 5% body weight. Diet had a significant effect on growth performance and feed utilization (p≤0.05). Final weight, weight gain, daily weight gain, and specific growth rate, were highest in fish fed diet D25. A similar pattern of growth was observed for length measurements. Fish fed diets exceeding 25% replacement of fish meal with earthworm meal had depressed growth. Feed conversion ratio was highest in fish fed D35. Mortality was not dependent on diet. It is concluded that fish meal can be substituted with earthworm meal up to 25% in the diet of C. gariepinus fry without adverse effects on growth and nutrient utilizatio

Problems and Prospects of Forward Sale in the Nigerian Housing Market: A Critique of Policy and Modus Operandi

One way of dealing with the challenge of demand uncertainty in property market is the use of forward sale. However, despite the huge demand for housing in Nigerian urban centre, it appears that the strategy is not popular with the demand base as expected. This study therefore examined the challenges of forward sale in the Nigerian housing market. This was achieved by reviewing the institutional policy provisions and operational guidelines within which forward sale transaction is conducted in Nigeria. Existing studies in this regards were reviewed while the opinion of three categories of respondents, the developers, buyers and estate surveyors and valuers in the Metropolitan Lagos State were obtained with the use of structured questionnaire. The percentages of options of responses were ranked. The study found that while developers prefer to harness the benefits of forward sale optimally, buyers are reluctant to use the method. Different challenges were responsible for this situation amongst which is the lack of policy protection for the buyer’s thereby exposing them to developer’s default, poor construction quality or delayed implementation. It was suggested that government regulate forward sale market to improve buyer’s confidence thereby providing developers with unhindered access to development fund at no cost

Genotoxicity Evaluation of Landfill Solid Waste Leachates from a Waste Dumpsite in Lagos State, Nigeria using the Allium cepa Assay

The management of municipal landfill’s leachate is considered one of the most significant environmental issues. Potential mutagenic and genotoxic effects of solid waste leachates (SWL) were investigated using the Allium cepa root meristematic cells assay technique. In Allium root growth inhibition test, experimental onion bulbs were cultivated in various concentrations of the SWL and distilled water was used as a negative control. The root tips from the treated bulb were processedby orcein squash technique after 72 h. The mean lengths of root bundles were obtained andeffective concentration (EC) values calculated. Some of the physicochemical properties of the WL were also determined. The A. cepa assay was carried out at concentrations of 0.05, 0.1, 2.0, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100% of the WL. There was a statistically different (p < 0.05), concentrationdependent inhibition of onion root growth and mitotic index, and induction of chromosomal aberrations in the onion test. The results of the physicochemical analysis revealed that the concentrations of some parameters were above the maximum permissible limit set by the world health organization (WHO) and could partly be correlated with the toxicity of wastewater. The landfill leachates pose a risk to human health and the environment in general. Hence, ecotoxicity/genotoxicity assays would be useful in leachate risk assessment when coupled with physicochemical analysis