The numerical solution of sparse matrix equations by fast methods and associated computational techniques

The numerical solution of sparse matrix equations by fast methods and associated computational technique

The Impact of Audit Quality on the Share Prices of Quoted Companies in Nigeria

This study is used to determine whether Audit Quality has any significant impact on and relationship with Market Value per Share of companies in Nigeria. Archival data were extracted from annual reports of 57 companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) between 2006 and 2011. Audit Quality was estimated using Audit Firm Size, Audit Fees, Auditor Tenure and Audit Client Importance. Market Price per Share (MPS) was derived directly from CSCS Cash – Craft.  Multiple regression analyses were conducted on the data. The results of the tests show that Audit Quality exerts significant influence on the MPS of quoted companies in Nigeria. In order to improve the quality of audit and minimize earnings manipulations by firms in Nigeria, we recommend that regulatory agencies -  professional  accountancy bodies, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, the National Assembly, and  Securities and Exchange Commission should issue authoritative standard and  framework for audit quality; companies should improve their earnings quality only through sales growth, cost control and cost reduction strategies; companies in Nigeria should present distinct statements of earnings quality while auditors should conduct earnings quality assessment and issue Integrated Audit Quality Assurance Report by adapting or adopting current best practices statutorily backed by earnings monitoring of companies in Nigeria.   Keywords: Audit Quality, Earnings Reports, Financial Statements, Market price Per Shar

Sustainability Reporting and Financial Performance of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

This study examines how sustainability reporting is useful for assessing the financial performance of listed Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. Specifically, the study focuses on the economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability reporting using “Return on Assets”, “Return on Equity” and “Earnings per Share” as proxies for financial performance of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria from 2012 to 2018. The sample of the study was restricted to seventeen deposit money banks out of twenty one Banks quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange as at December, 2018. The required data were collected from audited annual financial statements and “sustainability reports” of the selected Deposit Money Banks for the period. A detailed analysis of the three bottom lines of profit (economic), people (social) and planet (environmental) impact was conducted. The descriptive and least squares regression analysis were adopted for the study considering the banks’ sustainability reporting practices against the selected performance proxies. The study concludes that sustainability reporting practices of Banks in Nigeria have substantial impacts on the financial performances of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. The study recommends that enabling legislations should be put in place to mandate enhanced sustainability practices among all deposit money banks in Nigeria as well as facilitate meaningful evaluation and measurement of earnings, social and environmental impacts in all areas of bank operations in Nigeria

Visualisation of Uncertainty in 30m Resolution Global Digital Elevation Models: SRTM v3.0 and ASTER v2

Geospatial visualisation presents us with innovative techniques of assessing uncertainty in digital elevation datasets. It gives the viewer immediate feedback on potential problems and heightens understanding of effects not easily appreciated when dealing with numerical statistics only. This study evaluated the performance of 30-metre resolution SRTM version 3.0 and ASTER GDEM version 2 over Lagos, Nigeria. Both datasets were examined by direct comparison with 176 highly accurate Ground Control Points (GCPs) coordinated by GPS (Global Positioning System) observation. The basis of comparison was on the elevation differences between the Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and the GCPs at coincident points. The performance of both DEMs was visualised in 2D and 3D space by comparing pixel values and surface models. In the assessment, the absolute vertical accuracies of SRTM v3.0 and ASTER v2 are 4.23m and 28.73m respectively. The accuracy of SRTM for the study site proved to be higher than the value of 16m presented in the original SRTM requirement specification. ASTER did not meet up with its 17m overall accuracy specification.KEYWORDS: Uncertainty, Visualisation, Digital Elevation Model, SRTM, ASTER

Evaluation of Procurement Methods for Sustainable Environmental Development in Nigeria

Sustainable environmental development connote or entails meeting the economic needs of people without destroying the resources that will be needed by persons in the future based on long range planning and the recognition of the finite nature of natural resources. However, the dart of uncompleted and abandoned projects that littered the environment calls to mind the procurement method employed to deliver such projects. This paper seeks to appraise the contributory effects of procurement methods on abandoned projects. The population considered was developmental projects that have been developed to construction stage. This was stratified on the basis of project facility types. Primary data were obtained through structured questionnaire on procurement methods employed, factors that influence the choice of the procurement methods and the effects of selected procurement methods on project delivery. Data collected was analyzed using mean-score item, Chi-square and Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient. The results revealed among other things that projects were procured on traditional method of design-bid-construct which is not proactive in meeting project objectives. The paper concludes that there is need to adopt proactive modern procurement techniques that could match client’s objectives with project delivery. Keywords: Abandoned Projects, Environmental Development, Procurement Methods, Sustainable

Studies on the occurrence and distribution of heavy metals in sediments in Lagos Lagoon and their effects on benthic microbial population

An investigation was conducted to assess the concentration of heavy metals in sediments in three selected locations along Lagos lagoon comprising University of Lagos, Ebute Metta and Ijora zones and correlate the effect of metal concentrations on benthic microbial population vis a vis the open water bacterial population. Physiochemical analysis revealed a pH of 8.94, 11.98 and 7.82 of University of Lagos, Ebute Metta and Ijora zones respectively. The concentration of lead was more in Ebute Metta zone (Oko Oba) with a value of 22.75 mg/100 g, while the concentration of iron was more in Ijora zone with a value of 45.31 mg/100 g. The concentration of Cadmium was higher than other zones in Ebute Metta with a value of 14.63 mg/100 g. Mercury was more concentrated in University of Lagos zone with a value of 7.83 mg/100 g, while the value for chromium was more in Ebute Metta sediments with a value of 6.81 mg/100 g. Levene’s statistical analysis shows there is no significant difference in the variances for all metals across the three locations understudy. However, ANOVA analysis shows that mean measurements for all metals across the three locations are significantly different at 5% level of significance except for mercury where the mean measurements were not significantly different at 5% level of confidence. The benthic population (bacteria) was less than that of surface water (control).University of Lagos had the highest bacterial mean cfu/ml determined by log10 with a value 6.81 for control and 3.51 for sediments. The cfu value for fungi for control samples for University of Lagos zone, Ebute Metta and Ijora were 1.7, 1.54 and 1.6 respectively. The bacteria isolated and identified were Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Arthrobacter sp and Achromobacter sp. Fungi isolated were Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida utilissima and Sporobolomyces sp. The values for heavy metals for all zones are of public health significance and pose a threat to the survival of both humans and aquatic life. An immediate attention from concerned authorities is required in order to protect the Lagos lagoon and its dependants from further pollution and diseases

Validation of Global Digital Elevation Models in Lagos State, Nigeria

International audienceSatellite-derived Digital Elevation Models (DEM) are fast replacing the classical method of elevation data acquisition by ground survey methods. The availability of free and easily accessible DEMs is no doubt of great significance and importance, and a valuable resource in the quest to accurately model the earth's surface topography. However, the suitability of Digital Elevation Models in simulating the topography of the earth at micro, local and regional scales is still an active area of research. The accuracy of Digital Elevation Models vary from one location to another. As such, it is important to conduct local and regional assessments to inform the global user community on the relative performance of these DEMs. This study evaluates the accuracy of the 30-metre Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer Global Digital Elevation Models version 2, the 1-kilometre GTOPO30, the 90-metre Shuttle Radar Topography Mission v4 and the 1-kilometre Shuttle Radar Topography Missionv2.1 Digital Elevation Models by validating with highly accurate GPS check-points over Lagos, Nigeria. With a Root Mean Square Error of 3.75m, the results show that Shuttle Radar Topography Mission v4 has the highest vertical accuracy followed by Shuttle Radar Topography Mission v2.1 (Root Mean Square Error: 5.73m), Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (Root Mean Square Error: 21.70m), and GTOPO30 which shows the lowest vertical accuracy (Root Mean Square Error: 29.41m). By conducting the accuracy assessment of these products in Lagos, this study informs efforts directed at the exploitation of these Digital Elevation Models for topographic mapping and other scientific and environmental application

Some mineral profiles of fresh and bottled palm wine – a comparative study

Some mineral profiles of fresh palm wine and those of seven brands of bottled palm wine were analysed using atomic absorption spectroscopy and the values were compared. Three of the bottled samples contained toxic levels of either Pb or Cd or both. Neither metal was detected in fresh palm wine. Zn, Cr and Ni were 2 to 15 times higher while Cu was 2 to 5 times lower in bottled samples than values for fresh sample. The likelihood of water- derived heavy metal contamination during bottling, and its potential health implication for consumers are discussed.Key words: Palm wine, bottling, mineral elementsAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (8), pp. 829-83