Analysis Of Household Energy Consumption In Ibadan Metropolis Of Nigeria

Energy including electricity plays a significant role in the economic development of a country as it enhances the productivity of capital and labour. Many of the developing countries are plagued with energy problems: predominantly by their over dependence on low quality, traditional fuel and the over reliance on imported commercial fuel-oil. Some of the problems associated with energy forecasting in developing countries may include lack/insufficient data. This study was conducted in two phases and begun with the reviewing of literature on energy and the different determinants of energy in a developing nation. Access to electricity is particularly crucial to human development as electricity is, in practice, indispensable for certain basic activities, such as lighting, refrigeration and the running of household appliances, and cannot easily be replaced by other forms of energy. Yet, many developing countries are faced with the challenge of providing adequate and modern energy services to its communities, which in turn is expected to improve the standards of living through increased income and employment generation. The second phase of this research was developing and modelling demand for residential electricity using secondary data. This task was challenged by the inadequacies in the quality and availability of data on the one hand and the unrealistic assumptions of many existing models used to predict energy consumption in developing countries on the other. The contribution of this thesis here was also to consider a wider set of factors that are traditionally used in energy modelling. Many previous studies had been focusing on income as a determining factor affecting demand for energy (for example, the energy ladder theory). However, this study found that there are many other factors such as the informal economy (activities within the economy that is not declared or included in the gross domestic product of a nation), urbanisation and transformation from rural to urban areas that may have a significant impact on how energy in the residential sector is demanded. It was therefore important to exceed beyond unquestioned assumptions of the orthodox belief and to focus on the processes of urbanisation and change as realities facing many developing countries. In order to develop a deeper understanding and analysis of the residential energy sector, this research offered a thorough examination of the literature on modelling techniques, their underlying theories and assumptions and the choice of variables and measurements. This led to the selection and identification of the factors influencing energy demand and helped determine the modelling techniques finally used in the thesis. In order to achieve the aims of the study, a mixed method approach was adopted. The use of quantitative (secondary and primary) data as well as qualitative (case studies, face-to-face interviews and semi-structured questionnaires) helped the researcher to test a number of established hypotheses and offer a deeper understanding of the questions in hand. Through using various statistical techniques the study was able to examine the relationship between different selected variables which can help forecast the demand for residential energy. Furthermore, with the use of a structured questionnaire survey of the households, socio-economic data were collected from 501 households in Ibadan metropolis in Nigeria which provided the premise for understanding factors other than income that are responsible for determining the type and level of energy consumed in households. The analysis involved the use of ordinal regression as households neither use the same fuel in the same combination or at the same level. In sum the thesis made the following contributions: i) a better understanding of households energy consumption which have implications for a successful energy analysis for households in Nigeria as well as other developing countries; ii) a tested methodology for analysing the determinants of household energy. The results showed that household income and price of energy do not have a significant effect on the consumption of energy in the household. It was rather factors such as the location of the property, the ownership status of the property and the expenditure spent on energy that seemed to be more relevant in determining the consumption of energy in the households. The evidence from the study suggests that there is divergence in the energy need of households and hence the different determinants for various fuels. The concept of energy ladder as suggested by earlier researchers was not confirmed by the findings. Instead the study supported the work carried out by Heltberg (2003) and confirmed that income alone may not be sufficient to determine the consumption of energy by a household. It was rather factors such as the location of the property, the ownership status of the property and the expenditure spent on energy that seemed to be more relevant in determining the consumption of energy in the households. This research also highlighted the importance of the various socio-cultural factors that affects the consumption of energy within the household, and in the same vein, it showed that economic contribution is not the sole determinant in the choice of fuel energy

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

Prevention of Congenital Transmission of Malaria in Sub-Saharan African Countries: Challenges and Implications for Health System Strengthening

Objectives. Review of burden of congenital transmission of malaria, challenges of preventive measures, and implications for health system strengthening in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods. Literature from Pubmed (MEDLINE), Biomed central, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Database were reviewed. Results. The prevalence of congenital malaria in sub-Saharan Africa ranges from 0 to 23%. Diagnosis and existing preventive measures are constantly hindered by weak health systems and sociocultural issues. WHO strategic framework for prevention: intermittent preventive therapy (IPT), insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), and case management of malaria illness and anaemia remain highly promising; though, specific interventions are required to strengthen the health systems in order to improve the effectiveness of these measures. Conclusion. Congenital malaria remains a public health burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Overcoming the challenges of the preventive measures hinges on the ability of national governments and development partners in responding to the weak health systems

Robustness of Some Estimators of Linear Model with Autocorrelated Error Terms When Stochastic Regressors are Normally Distributed

Performances of estimators of the linear model under different level of autocorrelation (ρ) are known to be affected by different specifications of regressors. The robustness of some methods of parameter estimation of linear model to autocorrelation are examined when stochastic regressors are normally distributed. Monte Carlo experiments were conducted at both low and high replications. Comparison and preference of estimator(s) are based on their performances via bias, absolute bias, variance and more importantly the mean squared error of the estimated parameters of the model. Results show that the performances of the estimators improve with increased replication. In estimating all the parameters of the model, the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) estimator is more efficient than any of the Generalized Least Square (GLS) estimators considered when − 0.25 \u3c ρ ≤ 0.25; and the Maximum Likelihood (ML) and the Hildreth and LU (HILU) estimators are robust

Information- Seeking Behavior and Utilization among Snail Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria: Implications for Sustainable Animal Production

The authors of this study examined the information-seeking behavior and utilization among snail farmers in Oyo State with the view of improving animal production to achieve food and nutritional security.Simple random sampling was used to select one hundred and twenty respondents out ofthree hundred and sixty-five registered members in Oyo state. Interview schedule was administered to elicit information relating to socio-economic characteristics, information-seeking behaviour and utilization among snail farmers and the constraints faced by the snail farmers. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, mean, percentages, and correlation. Most of the respondents were literates. This factor increased their capacities for seeking and utilizing agricultural information. Lack of credit facilities and inadequate information from extension agents were the major constraints identified by the farmers. There was a significant relationship between the sources of information and information-seeking behavior of these farmers as well as the utilization of such information (r = -0.261; pv = \u3e0.05). Significant relationship also existed between constraints faced by the farmers and information-seeking behavior and utilization by these farmers (r = -0.23, pv = 0.01). Most of the respondents had high information-seeking behavior and utilization, which impliesthat farmers are willing to seek information that will improve their productivity.Efforts should therefore be made to promote the information utilization of farmers through the extension services of agricultural development projects in order to facilitate the transfer of technology. This will enhance the productivity and income of snail farmers and subsequently improve their standard of living

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

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

Public Health Perspectives of Preeclampsia in Developing Countries: Implication for Health System Strengthening

Objectives. Review of public health perspectives of preeclampsia in developing countries and implications for health system strengthening. Methods. Literature from Pubmed (MEDLINE), AJOL, Google Scholar, and Cochrane database were reviewed. Results. The prevalence of preeclampsia in developing countries ranges from 1.8% to 16.7%. Many challenges exist in the prediction, prevention, and management of preeclampsia. Promising prophylactic measures like low-dose aspirin and calcium supplementation need further evidence before recommendation for use in developing countries. Treatment remains prenatal care, timely diagnosis, proper management, and timely delivery. Prevailing household, community, and health system factors limiting effective control of preeclampsia in these countries were identified, and strategies to strengthen health systems were highlighted. Conclusion. Overcoming the prevailing challenges in the control of preeclampsia in developing countries hinges on the ability of health care systems to identify and manage women at high risk

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