Pattern and Behavioural Approach to Fraudulent Practices in the Informal Economic Setting

The experience of consumers in recent times has been described in various studies as disastrous and one that portends serious danger to the safety of human life.  The frequently reported cases were those that pertained to agricultural food items.  It is amusing that consumption of these products that ought to complement nutrient in human life has become source of discomfort and health hazard.  Coupled with this was the case of fraudulent practices which were reported as rampant within the traders in public markets.  In spite of this, such cases were not given the kind of adequate attention that they deserved by scholars.  This study therefore emerged as a response to this with objectives of interrogating the experiences of the victims of this anomaly through the dimension that the fraudulent practices was taking and the management approach being adopted to address it.  The study is descriptive in nature: a total of 28 respondents comprising consumers, foodstuff sellers and officials of Foodstuff Sellers Association were involved in the study. Both purposive and snowball sampling procedures were used to reach out to these respondents. Interview guide was the major instrument used to source for data from the respondents in the course of in-depth and key informant interview sessions.  All the consumers engaged as respondents here as well as some sellers acknowledged the existence of fraudulent practices within Bodija Market, Ibadan. The common fraudulent practices within this market, according to the findings of this study, included measurement cheat, hoarding of goods and mixture of the products with bad/diseased variety.  Only a few of the victims of the fraud reported the matter to the officials of the Market.  Measures adopted by the respondents to counter the fraudulent practices include extensive consultation with other consumers who patronized the market over the credibility of the sellers and their wares.  There are consumers who go about with their measurement modules (kongo) while in the market to make purchases; this category of people will not buy from any seller except those that allowed the usage of the consumers’ module alone.  Recommendations presented emanated from the respondents and were in line with the findings of the study. Keywords: Consumers, Food Stuff, Fraudulent Practices, Kongo, Sellers

Anti-mitotic and anti-proliferation potentials of aqueous and methanolic extracts of fermented Citrullus vulgaris (ogiri-egusi) seeds

There is a growing scientific evidence of the health-enhancing benefits of fermented food and beverages, especially in cancer prevention and  treatment. Ogiri-egusi is an indigenously fermented condiment consumed in some West African countries, and prepared mainly from natural fermentation of melon (Citrullus vulgaris) seeds. The condiment has been previously reported to possess anti-oxidative and anti hyperlipid emic properties. In this study, different concentrations of ogiri-egusi extracts were exposed to actively dividing cells from Allium cepa meristematic roots and Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the antimitotic and antiproliferative investigations, respectively. There was a statistically significant reduction in mitotic activities of the treated A. cepa meristematic cells compared to the untreated cells. The mitotic index (MI) of the untreated cells was 28.38 ± 4.58. At a concentration of 1.0 mg/ml, the extracts induced a reduction in the MI to 6.02 ± 2.74 and 4.94 ± 0.61 in the aqueous and methanolic extracts- treated cells, respectively. Some chromosomal aberrations were also observed. In addition, proliferation in yeast cells was significantly inhibited at all the concentrations of the aqueous extract examined as well as at the highest concentration of the methanolic extract. These results provide useful insights to the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of fermented Citrullus vulgaris. Keywords: Fermented Citrullus vulgaris, Allium cepa, antiproliferation, cytotoxicity, genotoxicit

Profitability of sweet potato production in derived savannah zone of Ogun State, Nigeria

This study examined profitability of sweet potato production in Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria. The study was based on primary data collected from 82 sweet potato farmers through multistage sampling technique; analysed using descriptive statistics and budgetary techniques. The result revealed that about 90% of the farmers were male with a mean age of 35 years and 22 years of sweet potato farming experience; 87.8% were married and 65% had a household size of 8 persons. About 82% had no formal education, 96% sourced sweet potato vine from previous harvest, 96% acquired land through leasehold while only 13.4% does not belonged to any farmers’ cooperative society. Furthermore, 96.3% and 98.8% of the farmers used less than 100kg inorganic and organic fertilizer respectively while 96.3% and 73.1% of the farmers used less than 2litres insecticide and herbicide respectively. Major production constraints were insufficient land (66%), insufficient labour (51%), pest and diseases (82%) as well as mechanization (98%). Budgetary analysis revealed that, on the average, sampled respondents incurred NG₦41,374.59 on total cost items, earned a revenue of NG₦131,645 and profit of NG₦90,270.41 per production season. Sweet potato production had a rate of return on investment of 2.88. Thus, sweet potato production was found to be a profitable enterprise considering the profit realized by farmers in the study area. The study recommended that constraints identified be tackled to enhance greater output. Policies should be implemented by government to provide assistance to farmers in order to expand and access adequate farm resources.Keywords: potato, producers, profitability, resources, constraint

Inter Agency Cooperation in Crime Management and Its Implication on Workability of Community Policing Project in Nigeria

Mamu is one of the communities that are gradually assuming heterogeneity status as a result of steady migration of people for occupation and settlement purpose.  Mamu is located in Ijebu North Local Government area of Ogun State.  Apart from the influx of settlers, the town has a popular periodic market that always attract people from neighbouring communities as well as people from states like Lagos, Oyo and Ondo States.  In spite of high influx of migrants and traders into this community, it is one of the communities that maintain almost zero level of criminal activities.  The formal and informal agencies were noted as playing substantial roles in the success being recorded in this situation.  Such interactions are the needed requisite for the successful take off of community policing in Nigeria.  In view of the constant scenarios of conflicts among the security agencies in Nigeria, the happenings in this community thus become an irresistible issue that needed to be explored for academic purpose.  The findings from the community survey carried out in the town revealed that there was strong belief in traditional system hence the resolve of some of them (59%) that they will call on vigilante when in trouble; only 13% agreed to call the police when there is trouble in the community.  At the time when some eventually experienced real trouble, only 17% actually called the Police, 55% reported the matter to the Oba-in-council and the vigilante, while 28% did not see the need to report the case.  There was strong working relationship between the Police and Vigilante group.  Activities of vigilante assisted tremendously in making the act of Policing easier.  Those that reported the case to the Police were satisfied with the way the cases were dispensed.  The factors responsible for this according to them include thoroughness, adherence to rule of law and the respect for the cooperation the Police is received from the community.  This study thus demonstrated the high prospects that with political will, the project of community policing could work in Nigeria Key words: Security, Crime, Crime management, Community Policin

Effects of chemical purification on the fatty acid composition of Cairca papaya and Citrus sinensis seeds oils

The oils of Citrus sinensis (CS) and Carica papaya (CP) seeds were extracted with soxhlet extractor apparatus using n-hexane as the solvent. The oils were concentrated by distillation and degummed with water and phosphoric acid, which was thereafter neutralized. Gas chromatography flame ionization detector (GC-FID) was used to determine fatty acid fraction (FAF). The prominent acids in the crude and refined oils of Carica papaya seed were oleic acid (74.5 %), (75.0 %), palmitic acid (12.1 %), (12.3 %), stearic acid (5.9 %), (5.6 %) and Linoleic acid (4.3 %), (4.1 %) respectively. The major fatty acids obtainable in Citrus sinensis sample were oleic acid (62.8 %), (63.4 %), palmitic acid (25.3 %), (24.3 %), stearic acid (7.2 %), (7.5 %) and Linoleic acid (3.4 %), (3.6 %) for crude and refined oils respectively. The statistical test results revealed that there was no significant difference in the values for the crude and refined oils. Thus, the purification processes (degumming and neutralization) did not affect the percentage fatty acid fractions of the oil but only reduced the phospholipid contents.Keywords: Soxhlet extractor, degumming, GC-FID, phospholipid and Fatty acid fractio

Comparative analysis of phytochemical and proximate composition of Allium sativum L. and Zingiber officinale Rosc.

Allium sativum and Zingiber officinale are spices with great potentials as food additives and medicinal values. In this study, the phytochemical and proximate composition of the two spices were evaluated and compared. The results of phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides and phenols in both the bulb of Allium sativum and rhizome of Zingiber officinale. The bulb of Allium sativum contained significantly higher amount of saponins, tannins and phenols when compared to the rhizome of Zingiber officinale. Zingiber officinale is rich in glycosides and flavonoids as compared to Allium sativum bulb. Terpenoids was the highest phytochemical detected in both spices while phenol recorded the least amount. The proximate composition of both spices showed moisture, protein, ash, fat fibre, and carbohydrate contents with values that ranged between 60.35 ± 0.23-76.48 ± 0.05%,7.52 ± 0.10-10.15 ± 0.02%, 1.51±0.05-1.54 ± 0.05%,1.02 ± 0.02-4.29 ± 0.06%, 2.13 ± 0.06-2.64 ±0.08%, 7.59 ± 0.23-24.82 ± 0.08% respectively. Protein and carbohydrate were significantly higher in Allium sativum bulb as compared to the rhizome Zingiber officinale. Significant differences were not recorded for all constituents analysed except for moisture. The energy content of Allium sativum bulb was higher than that observed for the Zingiber officinale rhizome. The present investigation therefore indicated that variations exist in both the phytochemical and proximate composition of the two spices, thus their use in food recipe should be encourage.Keywords: Saponins, Tannins, Flavonoids, Allium sativum and Zingiber officinal

Investigation of the anti-cancer and apoptotic properties of aqueous extract from fermented African locust bean seeds

Some fermented foods are reported to possess anti-cancer properties. Fermented African locust bean seeds is a condiment prepared from fermentation of Parkia biglobosa. It has been reportedly functional for various medicinal activities but not anti-cancer. The cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing properties of the aqueous extract of the condiment were investigated in human cancer-hepatocellular (Hep-G2) and cervical (HeLa) and non-cancer cell lines. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and clonogenic cell survival assays. Apoptotic cell death and DNA fragmentation were also investigated. The results revealed cytotoxicity to both cell lines in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05) and selective activities between cancer and non-cancer cells. The IC50 values were 1.3 and 0.5 mg/mL for Hep-G2 and HeLa cells respectively. Furthermore, the extract induced apoptotic cell death in only Hep-G2 (73.03±0.73) cells

Management of Open-Cervix Pyometra in a Four-Year-Old German Shepherd-Cross Bitch

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Comparative study of the nutritional, phytochemical and mineral compositions of the nuts of tropical almond (Terminalia catappa) and sweet almond (Prunus amygdalus)

The study was conducted to compare the nutritional, phytochemical and mineral compositions of Tropical almond with Sweet almond. Sample of Terminalia catappa nuts were collected within the premises of Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin, Nigeria while Prunus amygdalus was purchased from Shoprite Palms Mall Ilorin, Nigeria. Proximate, phytochemical and mineral analyses were carried out using standard procedures. Results showed that T. catappa was significantly (p0.05) was recorded in their protein contents (33.00 and 32.89% respectively). P. amygdalus was significantly (p<0.05) high in phytochemicals such as tannin (748.49µg/g), phenols (1,781.50 µg/g), flavonoids (456.38 µg/g), saponin (158.70 µg/g) and alkaloids (240.11µg/g) while T. catappa was significantly (p<0.05) high in glycosides (220.27µg/g).The differences in phytochemicals might be due to the differences in drying and other processing methods. T. catappa can well compete with P. amygdalus if the value chain is improved upon by proper packaging and storage for commercial purposes