The Impacts of Oil Price and Exchange Rate on Food Prices in Nigeria

This empirical research examined the interconnecting relationship between oil price, exchange rate and food prices in Nigeria. The study applied annual time series data from 1972 to 2016. Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) techniques were used in the process of estimating the model. The main results disclosed that there is a long run association among the considered variables. The error correction term indicates significant negative sign. Among the two independent variables in the model, exchange rate is affecting food price more than the oil price counterpart since some of the food items are imported. The result has robust implication on policy recommendations in Nigeria. Food production has a vital role in influencing food prices in Nigeria. The Central Bank of Nigeria must consider exchange rate as a factor influencing food price in its quest for achieving inflation target. Keywords Oil price; exchange rate; food price; ARDL; Nigeria DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-8-08 Publication date: April 30th 201

Negotiating with the Bandits and Endless Security Challenges in Katsina State, Nigeria (2019-2020)

The activities of criminals have been on the rise and the security situation deteriorated after negotiations between the State Government and the criminals in Nigeria. This paper assesses the context of armed banditry, cattle rustling, and kidnappings in Katsina State. The researchers adopted a cross-sectional study design and explanatory research type. A field survey was conducted in Batsari town and two villages: Zamfarawa and Bakiyawa. In-Depth Interviews (IDI) were conducted with some residents of the villages and some armed bandits. A non-probability sampling and snowballing technique were adopted to sample the research participants for the interviews. The study found that the Katsina State Government has not understand fully the security challenge and hence identified the wrong leaders of the criminals for negotiation, this is because there are three categories of criminals in the areas. This incensed some of the groups of criminals to intensify their attacks, kidnapping, and the rustling of livestock

Assessment of Factors Influencing Beneficiary Participation in Fadama II Project in Niger State, Nigeria

The paper investigated factors influencing beneficiary participation in Fadama II project in Niger State. Three LGAs out of eleven LGAs that benefited in Fadama II project were randomly selected for the study. To this end, one Fadama Community Association (FCA) and five Fadama User Groups (FUGs) were randomly selected from each LGA that benefited. Five beneficiaries were also randomly sampled from each FUG. Seventy five (75) beneficiaries were randomly sampled for the study. Descriptive statistics and logit regression model were used to analyze the data collected. However, large proportion of the beneficiaries participated in problem identification (69.3%) and project implementation (80%) in the stages of project development. Women participation in Fadama II project was identified to be low (28.0%). Meanwhile, educational level and membership of cooperative society significantly influenced participation (P < 0.01). Household size was a positive factor that significantly influenced participation (P < 0.05) in Fadama II project in the study area.Keywords: Fadama II Project, Beneficiary, Participation, Fadama Community Association, Fadama User GroupNigerian Journal of Basic and Applied Science (2011), 19 (2): 248-25

Synergistic antibacterial effect of stem bark extracts of Faidherbia albida and Psidium guajava against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus

The study was aimed at screening the stem bark extracts of Faidherbia albida and Psidium guajava for synergistic antibacterial effect against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The powdered plant materials were extracted with methanol using cold maceration technique and the extracts were screened for alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and steroids using standard methods. The test organism was isolated from subjects with boils in Gombe State and confirmed using Gram staining and standard biochemical procedures as well as cefoxitin susceptibility test. Confirmed MRSA were subjected to susceptibility test of the plant extracts using agar well diffusion and broth dilution techniques. The results of the study showed percentage extraction yields of 15.7% and 7.5% for F. albida and P. guajava stem barks respectively. Sensitivity test of MRSA isolates to the extracts using agar well diffusion method revealed zone diameters of 8-10mm while combination of extracts showed activity of 21mm .The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts combination was found to be 0.25mg/ml while the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was determined to be 0.5mg/ml. The study revealed that stem bark methanol extracts combination of the two plants possess synergistic antibacterial activity against MRSA and so can be exploited as a viable option in production of safer plant-based drugs against the bacterium.Keywords: Synergistic, Faidherbia albida, Psidium guajava, Methicillin Resistant, Staphylococcus aureu

Effect of weed control treatments and planting method on the yield and yield parameters of rice in Sudan savannah of Nigeria.

The experimentswerecarried out in 2020 and 2021 rainy seasons to determine the performance ofrice as influenced by planting method and weed control treatments. The treatments consists of three planting methods (dibbling broadcasting and transplanting and weed control methods  (hoe weeding, pre emergence application of gramazone (200g/L of paraquat/ha), pre and post emergence of gramazone (200g/L of paraquat/ha) and propanil (360g/L of propanil + 200g/L 2-4D) and weedy check). The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and were replicated three times.The results revealed the plots weeded twice and those treated with pre and post emergence application of gramazone and propanil respectively resulted in more number of spikelet per panicle, longer panicle, increase in number of effective tillers per hill, more grains per panicle and grain yield. The effect of planting methods on the rice growth revealed that rice sown under transplanting methods gave more number of effective tiler per hill, longer  panicle, more grain per panicle and increases in grain yield compared to the others methods while broadcasting resulted in the least value of the parameters than others methods.Therefore,it can be concluded that rice farmers in the sudan savanna zone of Nigeria can adoptpre and post emergence application of gramazone and propanil with transplanting method since the combination of these treatments gave better weed control, growth and yield of paddy rice. Key words: Herbicide, length of panicle, number of grain per panicle  andgrain yiel

Dynamic relationship of exchange rates and crude oil prices in South Africa: are there asymmetries?

We estimated the relationship between the exchange rates and crude oil prices for the period of 1960 to 2013. Based on Engle-Granger we found that the variables are cointegrated means there exist long-run relationship. However, when we move on to TAR and MTAR models the findings are opposite as there is no element of cointegration and the speed of adjustment is symmetric. This shows that based on TAR and MTAR models the effects of exchange rates on crude oil prices is insignificant. The policy relevance is that South African authority need to monitor its exchange rates persistently related to other currencies more especially American dollar because it determined the crude oil prices that might have greater influences on other macroeconomic variables

Dynamic relationship of exchange rates and crude oil prices in South Africa: Are there asymmetries?

We estimated the relationship between the exchange rates and crude oil prices for the period of 1960 to 2013. Based on Engle-Granger we found that the variables are cointegrated means there exist long-run relationship. However, when we move on to TAR and MTAR models the findings are opposite as there is no element of cointegration and the speed of adjustment is symmetric. This shows that based on TAR and MTAR models the effects of exchange rates on crude oil prices is insignificant. The policy relevance is that South African authority need to monitor its exchange rates persistently related to other currencies more especially American dollar because it determined the crude oil prices that might have greater influences on other macroeconomic variables. Keywords: Exchange rates, Oil prices, Asymmetry, South Africa, Error correction model

Measuring Residents Satisfaction Levels of Public Housing in Maiduguri Metropolis of Borno State, Nigeria

This study aims to evaluate the residents’ satisfaction with public housing in the Maiduguri metropolis. The study assessed the levels of quality of housing components, occupants' preference and satisfaction. The study adopted a quantitative approach and data were collected through a questionnaire survey from 265 household heads of the housing estate proportionately selected from the target population in Maiduguri metropolis. The data collected were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics with mean ranking, frequency distribution and multiple regression analysis to achieve the research aim. The study showed that quality of building component, Condition of a bedroom, condition of living room, condition of the roof, condition of finishing and condition of the kitchen were ranked as very good and condition of the store, condition of the dining area, condition of garage and condition of toilets were good in the study area, while public housing quality and preference significantly influence occupants' satisfaction in Maiduguri metropolis. The research recommended that occupant peculiarities should be integrated into the design and development of housing estate. This will ensure that the satisfaction of the occupants is well co-opted in the development and therefore lead to higher satisfaction and functionality of the estates. The provision of facilities and amenities in public housing estates should be based on the occupant requirements and peculiarities. This will lead to the optimal utilization of the estate after development

Prevalence of Mosquitoes in Gidan Yunfa Community of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria

Different species of mosquito serves as a vector for transmitting malaria. Malaria is still a serious public health problem in Nigeria. Knowledge of the mosquito species, their diversity, and their composition would help immensely toward proper implementation of the different control strategies. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of mosquitoes and feeding or biting period in Gidan Yunfa community of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. The Larvae and Pupae were collected from breeding sites. Adult mosquitoes were sampled using CDC light traps (situated indoor and outdoor) and Pyrethrum Spray Catch methods. Mosquitoes were identified morphologically. A total of 6,410 adult mosquitoes with 2,142 (33.42 %) obtained from CDC light traps and 4,268 (66.58%) from the larval collections were identified belonging to 3 genera Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex. A maximum number of mosquitoes were caught with CDC traps. The abundance of the different genera varied significantly (P<0.05) with Anopheles having the highest occurrence (54.75%) followed by Culex mosquitoes with 40.42%. Aedes has the least abundance with 8.05%. The indoor and outdoor feeding habits of the different species varied significantly (P<0.05). Nature of the houses and tethering of animal in residential houses and abundance of breeding places may explain the reason behind the higher prevalence of the mosquito in this community