Assessment of the Quality of Borehole Water Sample in Federal Housing Estate and Sites and Services Areas of Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Assessment of the quality of borehole water samples from Federal Housing Estate and Sites and Services areas of Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria was conducted to determine the suitability of these borehole water samples. Six samples of borehole water gotten from six different families living in these areas were analyzed for microbial, chemical and physicochemical parametersusing standard analytical method of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The result of microbial analysis revealed that all the water samples (samples D, E, F, G, H, and M) had total coliform count of 64.0cfu/100ml, 5.0cfu/100ml, 41.0cfu/100ml, 16.0cfu/100ml, 124.0cfu/100ml and 0.0cfu/100ml respectively. This showed that sample D, F, G, and H exceeded the standard of 10 coliform counts/100ml. The entire samples resulted at 0 counts for Escherichia coli. Samples D, F, G and M tested negative for pseudomonas test, whereas samples E and H did not. The chemical analysis showed that all the samples did not meet up with the recommended standard of pH (6.5-8.5).However, there was significant difference (p<0.5) between samples D and E. samples F and J were significantly the same, also as samples G and M. Sample M was the least significant while sample D was the most significant at pH 4.6 and 6.4 respectively. The temperatures were all significantly the same and did not exceed standard limit of 370C. The total dissolved solid also did not exceed the limit of 500ppm and the conductivity limit was not exceeded. All the samples did not exceed limits for zinc, copper, lead, magnesium, cadmium and iron which are 3mg/l, 1mg/l, 0.01mg/l, 0.02mg/l, 0.03mg/l and 0.3mg/l  respectively except for calcium, where samples D, E, G and H were beyond standard of 0.4mg/l. All the samples were significantly different for each parameter except for lead of which the entire sample were all the same. The depth of the borehole in relation to the distance of septic tank, distance of neighbor’s septic tank and distance of refuse dump as obtained from these families revealed that sample M had the highest distance and was the least contaminated, whereas sample H had the closest distance and the greatest microbial contamination. The depth of Sample G borehole was according to the regulatory standard of 150 ft., and from the analysis the entire parameters were within standard except for pH. Keywords: Water, Standards, Microbial analysis, Total Dissolved Solid, Metals, Septic tan

THE DISINTEGRATION OF YUGOSLAVIA: A LESSON FOR NIGERIA

The prediction by some experts within the United States National Intelligence Council in a document entitled “Mapping Sub-Saharan Africa’s Future” predicting outright collapse of Nigeria as a nation state cannot be wished away. The study examined the factors that precipitated the disintegration of Yugoslavia and juxtaposed them with the past and present religious and socio-political state of Nigeria. The paper maintained that virtually all the factors that led to the break-up of Yugoslavia abound in Nigeria. These factors include deep seated inter-ethnic rivalries, religious intolerance, dearth of national integration, internal colonialism and deficiencies in Nigeria’s federal structure. The real danger is not even the possibility of the break-up of Nigeria into new states; this would not necessarily be a problem, but the collapse of Nigeria into utter chaos and manslaughter. The study recommended true fiscal federalism, constitutionalism, respect for sectionalism, national integration and the implementation of the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference as measures to checkmate the disintegration of Nigeria.  Article visualizations

Combined impact of freezing and soaking times on different cowpea varieties' flour functionality and resultant gel strength, sensory and product yield of moi-moi

The preparation of moi-moi either from cowpea flour (processed by dry-milling) or paste (processed by wet-milling) has evolved from the indigenous processing methods. Feasibly, freezing should enhance the characteristics of the cowpea grain, and when combined with conventional processing, help to improve emergent products. In this current work, therefore, the combined impact of freezing with soaking times on different cowpea varieties' flour functionality and resultant gel strength, sensory and product yield of moi-moi were studied. Analysis of flour functionality involved the determinations of moisture content, bulk density, oil absorption capacity, swelling index and water absorption capacity, whereas those of moi-moi products involved gel strength, sensory and (product) yield. Across the cowpea flour samples, the functional attributes significantly differed (p 0.05), except for the aroma (p < 0.05). Moi-moi products' yield varied widely (p < 0.05) by different reconstituted water volumes. Overall, combining freezing with conventional processing that involved reconstituted water volumes of cowpea promises an enhanced moi-moi yield

Socioeconomic dynamism and the growth of baby factories in Nigeria

Abstract: Illegally breeding babies for marketing purposes otherwise known as “infant commodification” is increasing in Nigeria. This menace is a vice that threatens the lives and wellbeing of babies, young girls, and women. This article investigates through an in-depth review of scholarly publication and media coverages the factors that have contributed to the emergence and growth of the illicit industry in Nigeria. It examines the role of cultural beliefs, social attitudes, and norms as well as the harsh economic conditions of the nation as factors playing pivotal roles in the continual growth of baby farming in Nigeria. Some of these sociocultural factors are social stigmatization of pregnancy outside wedlock, stigmatization of adopted children, and the importance attached to fertility and the demonization of childlessness. The article draws on Emile Durkheim anomie theory and Chambers dimensions of poverty to explain how breakdown within the nation’s socioeconomic structure has a concomitant impact in breading social vices. It concludes by recommending that there is a need to jettison stigmatizing sociocultural beliefs within the nation’s social fabrics. Responsive attitude toward family reproductive issues should be encouraged and finally the activities of health care providers, operators of nongovernmental organizations taking custody of babies and young girls be properly monitored. As well, stringent punishment be meted out to apprehended operators of these baby farms to serve as deterrent to others

Farro 57 Rice Cultivar: A Comparative Study of the Nutritional Composition of its Parboiled Milled Rice, Brown Rice and Germinated Brown Rice

This work analyzed the nutritional composition of germinated brown rice (GBR)&nbsp; produced from FARRO 57 rice cultivar and compared it with that of ungerminated brown rice (UBR) and ungerminated parboiled milled/white rice (UWR) from the same cultivar which were used as controls. The aim was to evaluate and compare the nutritional composition of UBR, UWR and GBR of the rice cultivar. The experimental design used was a completely randomized design. GBR was produced by soaking brown rice grains in distilled water for 24 h and then made to germinate in a laboratory incubator at 35° C for 12, 24 and 36 h. The parameters determined included proximate composition, energy value, minerals, vitamins, total starch, amylose and total reducing sugar contents and they were determined in triplicates. It was found that GBR had significantly higher contents of protein (14.54-15.01%), ash (3.36.98%), total dietary fibre (9.23-9.31), phosphorus (130.55-187.15 mg/100 g), iron (6.22-9.94 mg/100 g), calcium (455.0-560.0 mg/100 g), zinc (2.51-2.72 mg/100 g), selenium (92.10-107.50 µg/100 g), vitamin B2 (2.35-2.92 mg/100 g) and vitamin E (1.82-2.68 mg/100g) than UBR and UWR. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the contents of vitamins A (19.45-19.72 IU), B1 (0.33-0.34 mg/100g) and B6 (1.00-1.10 mg/100g) of GBR and UBR samples, however they were all significantly higher than that of UWR. The GBR also had significantly lower amount of total carbohydrate (64.21-71.09%), total starch (54.91-60.92%), amylose (22.05-28.14%), and total reducing sugar (5.14-11.23%) than UBR and UWR. Amongst the GBR samples, the ash, protein, and the minerals increased with increase in duration of germination while the total carbohydrate, starch and amylose decreased with increase in duration of germination. GBR was recommended over UBR and UWR due to its optimum levels of the nutrients

Production and Evaluation of Ready to Eat Soup Balls from Egusi, Egusi- Kirikiri, Sesame Seed and Groundnut

The aim of this work is to produce ready to eat soup balls from some oil seeds. Soup balls were produced from “egusi” seeds (Citrullus vulgaris), “egusi kirikiri” seeds (Colocynthis citrullus L), sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea). The soup balls were dried to constant moisture content before packaging. The proximate composition of the soup balls were determined. The soup balls were used to prepare soups and sensory evaluation conducted. The microbial properties of the soup balls were determined after production and after twenty eight days of storage. The moisture content of the soup balls were between 4.4% to 5.5% which showed that they will maintain longer shelf- life. The protein contents though significantly different (p&lt; 0.05) were high between 23.89% and 40.91%, which showed that the soup balls can compliment meat in soups. The overall acceptability results showed significant differences (p&lt; 0.05) between soup balls produced from “egusi” and sesame seeds. Total viable count and fungal count of the soup balls after twenty eight days of storage were all below 106 CFU/g and no coli form was detected