Proximate analysis of snakehead fish, Parachanna obscura (Gunther 1861) of the Cross River, Nigeria

African snakehead, Parachanna obscura is being considered as an emerging aquaculture candidate in Nigeria. The species is very palatable and has a good fillet quality. Study was conducted on the proximate composition of the species from Cross River, Nigeria. Samples of snakehead were analyzed for protein, fat, moisture, crude fibre and ash contents. The protein content of the species ranged from 21.03-22.03 with mean value of 21.5%. The fat content ranged from 17.1-17.4% with a mean value of 17.2 %. Moisture content ranged from 51.1-52.0 % with a mean value of 51.7%. Ash and crude fibre contents were very low. The protein content of Parachanna obscura compares favourably with that of other members of the family Channidae. The fat content is exceptionally high, making the species a good healing and recuperating agent for post-natal and post-operation patients. We strongly recommend the culture of Parachanna obscura in Nigeria and its meal for growing children

Fiscal and macroeconomic policies dynamics in Nigeria

This study examined fiscal policy and macroeconomic policy dynamics in Nigeria. The study specifically assessed whether there is a long run and short run causal relationship running from fiscal policy instruments such as government revenue, government expenditure and debt to macroeconomic variables such as interest rate and GDP in Nigeria. The data for the study were source from the CBN statistical bulletin for the period 1980 to 2016. The exploratory design was combined with the ex-post facto research design; the data collection method was desk survey. The study used the Vector Error Correction Mechanism (VECM) for data analysis. Findings from the analyses showed that there is no long run and short run causality running from fiscal policy instruments such as government revenue, government expenditure and debt to interest rate in Nigeria. The study also showed that there is no long run and short run causality running from fiscal policy instruments such as government revenue, government expenditure and debt to GDP in Nigeria. The study on the basis of these findings recommends that Fiscal policy should be tailored towards sustaining economic growth and development; in view of this government avoid further borrowings as this may increase the debt servicing burden and result in a negativity effect on growth in the long run and lastly that fiscal policy should be used to complement monetary policy effects as if used alone may not achieve the desired target for interest rate in Nigeria.Keywords: Government Expenditure, Government Revenue, Government Debt, Fiscal Policy, Interest rate, Inflation rate, Economic growt

Commercial Bank Credit and Its Contributions on Manufacturing Sector In Nigeria

The main aim of this study was to determine how commercial bank credit can influence manufacturing sector in Nigeria. The study shows that commercial bank credit if well channeled to the worthy customers or sector will enhance economic growth in Nigeria. The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of commercial bank loans on manufacturing sector and to establish the relationship between interest rate and manufacturing sector performance. Secondary source of data was employed using Central bank statistical bulletin. Ordinary least square of multiple regression model was used to establish the relationship between dependent variable and independent variables. The finding revealed that commercial bank credit had a significant relationship on manufacturing sector. It was recommended that government should endeavour to ensure that there are available and sufficient credit allocated to the manufacturing sector in Nigeria with reasonable or affordable interest rates, and for Nigeria to meet it millennium goals, she will have to depend on productive and services produced within her boundaries. Keywords: Aggregate credit, Bank credit, Commercial bank rate, Interest rate,                           Lending rat

Banking Sector Reform In Nigeria: A Regulatory Imperative For A Sustainable Banking Industry

The focuses on banking reform in Nigeria: A regulatory imperative for a sustainable banking industry. It is the aim of this research to critically appraise the Nigerian banking sector against the back-drop of its strategic role in national economic development. The research design adopted in this study falls within the paradigm of an Ex-post facto design type. Data were collected mainly from secondary records and analyzed using ordinary least square method. However, the study revealed that, prior to the 2004 banking sector reforms, many Nigerian banks were undercapitalized and this accounted for their poor performance in terms of low profitability, low liquidity, low returns on investments and lack of sustainability. The study also reveals that huge bad debts profile or poor asset quality has a negative contribution to bank performance and was statistically significant. Interest rate had a positive effect and a significant effect on bank performance. On the whole, the incorporated variables (BCAP, INTR) contributed positively to the growth of Nigerian banks, and the economy at large. Based on the findings above, it is concluded that effective banking sector reforms is a regulatory imperative for a sustainable banking industry in Nigeria. This study recommends periodic increase in the banks’ capitalization especially since the hyper-inflationary rate in our economy is not showing any sign of abating. This will afford the banks the financial leverage to perform some of its strategic developmental roles especially in the real sector of the economy to bring about the much-desired national economic development. They study strongly recommends the strict implementation of the risk-focused and rule-based regulatory framework by the regulators. This it is believed will reduce the high incidence of huge bad debts profile of banks and consequently improve the assets quality of banks for better performance. Keywords: Bank profit, Bank capitalization, Bank bad debts, Bank interest rate, Good corporate                              governanc

Determinants of Domestic Investment in Nigeria: An Autoregressive Distributive Lag Approach

This study examined the determinants of domestic investment in Nigeria for the period 1983 to 2015. The study specifically examined the effect of government expenditure, interest rate spread, growth rate of the economy, inflation rate, exchange rate and credit to the private sector on domestic investment in Nigeria. The ex-post facto research design was adopted to collect the required data. The data were analysed using the ARDL technique. The result of the analyses showed that government expenditure, interest rate spread, growth rate of the economy, inflation rate, exchange rate and credit to the private sector has no long run causality with domestic investment in Nigeria. Also, only government expenditure has short run causality with domestic investment in Nigeria. Based on these findings, the study recommends government expenditure should be focused on viable long term capital projects such as infrastructure and social amenities to sustain its short term causality and establish long run causality on domestic investment. Also, the regulatory bodies of the Nigerian financial sector should bridge the wide spread between deposit and lending rates to reduce the cost of borrowing in a way to promote domestic investment. Keywords: Exchange rate, Investment, Inflation, Government expenditure, Credit to the private sector, Interest rate spread, Economic growth rat

Fiscal and Monetary Policy and its Effect on the Growth of Nigeria Economy

The study examined the empirical link on the effect of fiscal and monetary policy on the Economic Growth of Nigeria (1986-2010). The objectives were to determine factors of fiscal and monetary policy that contributed to the growth of Nigeria economy. It made use of secondary data, from Central Bank of Nigeria statistical Bulletin, Volume 21, 2010 and employed the ordinary least squares method of statistical analysis. It was found out that government revenue had a positive impact and statistical significant on gross domestic product. Also shown that government expenditure was positively significant on the growth of Nigeria Economy. The second model depicts that money supply had a positive impact on gross domestic product and it discovered that this variable was statistically significant. Exchange rate variable had a positive impact on the performance of Nigeria economy. The finding revealed that inflation had a positive impact but there was no significant relationship between inflation and gross domestic product. It therefore suggests that government should increase the number of fiscal policy instruments over and above the ones currently in use. The study recommended that measures should be adopted that would ensure income generation and government revenue generating ventures. Keywords: Balance of payment, Economic growth, Exchange rate, Government expenditure, Inflation, Money supply

Stabilization of uranium(VI) at low pH by fungal metabolites : applications in environmental biotechnology

Uranium contamination of soils and water is a worldwide problem due to geology or anthropogenic release such as mining, or use of inorganic fertilizers. In situ remediation of low and moderately contaminated sites is a complicated procedure due to the complex chemistry of uranium. This study demonstrates that at pH 3.5, a fungal strain isolated from unprocessed uranium bearing shale creates hydrochemical conditions that immobilize 97% of a total of 10 mg L-1 dissolved uranium in a 0.20 μm pore system. The redistribution occurred within 10 minutes and remained for five weeks and just 12% of the inventory was retrieved in the biomass. Size exclusion chromatography of the dissolved phase identified organic substances in the range of more than 60 kD down to 100 D as a response to time of incubation. Geochemical modeling indicates formation of uranium-organic complexes where ligand size, coordination chemistry and their tendency to agglomerate determine the redistribution

Knowledge and Use of Active Learning Strategies Among Lecturers at the College of Health Technology Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

This study investigated the knowledge and use of active learning strategies among lecturers at the College of Health Technology, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. To achieve this purpose, two research questions and hypotheses were formulated. The study adopted a survey research design. Census approach was used to select a sample of 109 lecturers at the College of Health Technology Calabar. An instrument titled, “Knowledge and Use of Active Learning Strategies Questionnaire” (KUALSQ) was used for data collection. The questionnaire was validated using Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.80, after a pilot test. Deviation and hypotheses were tested at .05 level of significant using a population t-test and simple linear regression statistics. From the answers to the research questions, the respondents indicated a low level of knowledge and use of active learning strategies on two items and the test of hypotheses revealed that the level of knowledge and use of active learning strategies among lecturers in the College of Health Technology Calabar is not significantly high. Based on the findings, it was recommended amongst others that the school management should conduct seminars for lecturers on active learning strategies that can be used in the classroom, as this would promote students’ interest and participation in the course

Load frequency control using the particle swarm optimisation algorithm and PID controller for effective monitoring of transmission line

Load frequency control (LFC) plays a critical role in maintaining the stability and reliability of the power system. With the increasing integration of renewable energy sources and the growth of complex interconnected grids, efficient and robust LFC strategies are in high demand. In recent years, the combination of particle swarm optimisation (PSO) and proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers, known as PSP-PID, has been used as a promising approach to enhance the performance of LFC systems. This article focuses on modelling, simulation, optimisation, advanced control techniques, expert knowledge, and iterative refinement of the power system to help achieve suitable PID settings that provide reliable control of the load frequency in the transmission line. The performance indices of the proposed algorithm are measured by the integral time absolute error (ITAE), which is 0.0005757 with 0.9994 Ki, 0.7741 Kp, and 0.1850 Kd. The model system dynamics are tested by varying the load frequency from 300 MW to 350 MW at a load variation of 0.2. The suggested controller algorithm is relatively reliable and accurate in power system management and protection load frequency control compared to conventional methods. This work can be improved by including more generating stations synchronised into a single network