Evaluating The Operations Of Emergencies And Disaster Management Agencies In Ekiti State, Nigeria

The paper evaluates the efficacy of emergency and disaster management in Nigeria with reference to the situation in the Sixteen Local Government Areas of Ekiti State. The data were collected from primary sources; using questionnaire, personal observation and oral interview. A total number of one thousand six hundred (1600) questionnaires were administered in this study. The data collected were analyzed using simple percentages frequency counts and statistical significance “P-Value”. Results from this study showed that; the estimated financial cost of loss is significantly enormous across different age groups and educational background of citizens in the State. The study showed that Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency does not have enough capacity to meet the level of performance responsibility, which could support effective disaster management. The paper therefore suggests that to achieve effective and efficient emergency disaster management in the study area, there is need for collective participation in insurance policy/plan, creation of urban search and rescue capacity, seeking international co-operation and development dedicated research activities, through space applications and information technology among others. Keywords: Environmental Pollution, Environmental Management and Sustainable Developmen

Isolation Of Mycotoxi genic Fungi And Quantification Of Aflatoxins From Bean Flours Sold In Abeokuta Nigeria

The recent increase in consumers’ preference for commercially sold bean flour necessitated the need to determine associated mycoflora and quantify the toxin production by the isolates, since several fungal genera have been associated with bean grains. Four fungal genera were isolated from fifteen beans flour samples sourced from various markets in Abeokuta by serial dilutions and pour plates methods on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) plates. Distinct colonies were transferred to Methyl Red Dessicated Coconut Agar (MRDCA) plates to identify toxin- producing isolates and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used for aflatoxin quantification from the bean flour samples. The isolated fungal genera were, Aspergillus (60%), Fusarium (10%), Rhizopus (15%) and Mucor (5%). Nine of the fifteen samples were found positive for aflatoxigenic organisms and also produced aflatoxins that ranged from 0.006 to 0.151 ng/kg. The presence of toxin- producing organisms in the bean flour which is above the acceptable standard is a red flag that must be addressed vigorously if public health is a priority

Effect of Social Capital Endowment on the Welfare of Farming Households in Kwara State, Nigeria

This study examines the effect of social on welfare of farming households in Kwara state, Nigeria. It focused on household food security status and nutritional status of under-five children as measure of household welfare. A three stage random sampling was employed to collect primary data from 160 farming households in Kwara State. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, ordinary least square regression (OLS) and probit regression analyses. The regression analysis result shows that educational level, household size, household monthly income, dependency ratio and social capital index were significant in explaining variation in household food security status and in addition, number of friends of household head and status of household members in social groups are also significant in explaining nutrition status of under-five children in the households. The study showed that household’s per capital calories intake increases with increase decision making index and heterogeneity index. Children nutrition status increase as density of membership and heterogeneity indices increase. The study concludes that social capital has a positive effect on household food security and children nutrition status thereby improving household welfare. The study therefore recommended that farmer should be encouraged to join social group so as to increase their social capital endowment. Also, social groups need to be strengthened and supported to improve household social network so as to improve household welfare

Land Market Challenges: The Case of Ifo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

Bearing in mind that land acquisition is very crucial to human development from ages past, the study examined private land acquisition processes and challenges encountered by individuals in Ado-odo/Ota Local government area of Ogun State. Using purposive sampling method, the study gathered relevant data from four different community leaders as well as four heads of family land owners with the aid of questionnaires and employed indepth interviews to solicit information from eight different youth leaders from the four selected communities. Four each of local artisans (bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers and electricians) available on sites under construction between March and May, 2014 were interviewed on their experiences within the selected neighbourhoods. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics while percentages and ranking were employed in analysis. Data presentation was basically in tables. The study found that because past governments had failed to take into account the needs and interests of individual, family or community land owners during earlier compulsory land acquisition processes, family land owners are in a hurry to sell off their land even when existing developments are far away. The study recommends that government needs to be proactive in designing new neighbourhood layouts to forestall large informal settlements and, at the same time, implement new methods of financing infrastructure to support urban land development. Finally, government needs to create a friendlier mortgage finance system that will make it possible for low-income households to acquire shelter or land at affordable prices

MYCOFLORA AND AFLATOXIN LEVELS IN WALNUT SAMPLES STORED IN DIFFERENT PACKAGING MATERIALS IN OGUN STATE

Aflatoxin levels in nuts and fruits pose a great threat to food storage and availability. This study aimed at determining the mycoflora and aflatoxin level in stored walnut under various conditions.  Freshly harvested walnuts were stored for 90 days  in three different media: jute bags, Plastic containers and sterile polythene bags under room (37ᵒC) and refrigeration (4ᵒC) temperature. After 90 days of storage, the stored walnuts were examined for fungal growth at one month interval after which colonial and morphological characterization were carried out to identify the fungi present. Proximate analysis and aflatoxin content of the walnut samples were determined by standard methods. Fungi isolated from the walnuts include; Aspergillus niger, Saccharomyces cerevisae, Penicillum notatum, Aspergillus sydowi, Fusarium oxysporium, and Rhizopus stolonifer. Walnuts stored in plastic container at room temperature had the lowest aflatoxin level of 0.002 ng/kg while that stored in polythene bags had the highest (0.054 ng/kg).  Proximate analysis also revealed that walnuts stored in polythene bag reduced significantly (p<0.05) in protein, ash content, fat, fibre, moisture and carbohydrates while samples stored in jute bag and plastic container remained unchanged. This study shows that storage methods contributed to the overall quality, shelf life and aflatoxin content of walnut and hence care should be taken during post harvesting process.   &nbsp

Mycoflora and Aflatoxin Levels in Stale Retailed Pepper Sold in Abeokuta Nigeria

Fungi constitute a major problem in the production, storage and processing of agricultural products, recent concern about the consumption of stale retail pepper in Abeokuta necessitated the need to determine the fungal population and also to quantify Aflatoxin produced by the fungi. Fungi species were isolated from 20 pepper samples (Capsicum annum) bought from different markets in Abeokuta using standard microbiological procedures and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to quantify the aflatoxin present. Isolated fungi were Aspergillus flavus (55%), Mucor sp (10%), Sacharomyces cerevisiae (20%), Aspergillus fumigatus , Rhizopus sp and Penicillium sp (5%) respectively. Results shows that fourteen of the pepper samples had no detectable aflatoxin and the aflatoxin content in the remaining six samples was 23ng/kg, 18 ng/kg, 15 ng/kg, 9 ng/kg, 6 ng/kg and 2 ng/kg,. five of these samples had aflatoxin content above the European Union maximum tolerance level of 5ng/kg. The presence of toxin producing Aspergillus flavus capable of causing food poisoning raises concern over public health risks that may be associated with the consumption of stale pepper. Keywords: Aflatoxin, Fungal contamination, Capsicum annum, stale foods, High Performance Liquid chromatography, public healt

Assessment of environmental degradation in Eleyele Area, Ibadan North West Local Government, Oyo State Nigeria

This study investigated the causes and effects of environmental degradation in Eleyele, Ibadan. Six research questions were formulated for  this study. A duly validated instrument named Questionnaire on Causes and Effects of Environmental Degradation (QCEED) was used for data collection. A total of ninety (90) copies of the questionnaire were administered to the respondents using simple random sampling method by coming in contact/physical means and oral interviewing the respondents. Descriptive statistic was used to analyze the data collected. The result from this study showed that erosion (28.8%), flooding (22.5%), and air pollution (18.3%) were identified as major environmental hazards in the study area. The causes of these environmental problems were inadequate drainage pattern (19.4%),  dumping of solids wastes into rivers/streams (17.8%), poor sanitation exercise (15.6%). The study identified control measures such as awareness programme to re-awaken people’s commitment on environmental management (81.3%), dredging of rivers/streams channel (91.3%), renovation of damaged drainages (85.0%) and prosecution of sanitation exercise programme offenders (75.0%). The study recommends that there is need for the formulation and enforcement of sanitation  programme among others

Crop Energy analysis

Energy inputs and yield relationship in cassava production was investigated to establish correlation between inputs and outputs in cassava production in Nigeria. Production data of energy inputs and crop yields were collected from 54 cassava farms in twelve cassava producing villages through site visits, interaction with the farmers and physical measurements for three production seasons (2013-2016). The data were analyzed statistically. Amount of inputs per hectare were calculated and multiplied by coefficients of energy equivalents. Total energy inputs in cassava production were 36482.8 MJ ha-1 while average output of cassava tubers was 32022.6 kg ha-1 . Energy use ratio, energy productivity and specific energy of the surveyed farms were 4.9, 0.9 kg MJ-1 and 1.1 MJ kg-1 respectively. Shares of direct and indirect energy inputs were 5.7% and 94.2% respectively. Human labor, fertilizer, cassava stem, machinery and fuel had positive effects on output. Fertilizer, cassava stem and machinery variables were significant at 0.1%, 1% and 5% significant levels respectively. R-squared was 0.93 and Durbin Watson statistic indicates no autocorrelation at 5% significant level, indicating that variables in the model were not dependent of each other and changes in the value of one variable did not have any meaningful effect on other variables. All the variables contributed independently to the output

Energy output-input analysis

Energy inputs and yield relationship in cassava production was investigated to establish correlation between inputs and outputs in cassava production in Nigeria. Production data of energy inputs and crop yields were collected from 54 cassava farms in twelve cassava producing villages through site visits, interaction with the farmers and physical measurements for three production seasons (2013-2016). The data were analyzed statistically. Amount of inputs per hectare were calculated and multiplied by coefficients of energy equivalents. Total energy inputs in cassava production were 36482.8 MJ ha-1 while average output of cassava tubers was 32022.6 kg ha-1 . Energy use ratio, energy productivity and specific energy of the surveyed farms were 4.9, 0.9 kg MJ-1 and 1.1 MJ kg-1 respectively. Shares of direct and indirect energy inputs were 5.7% and 94.2% respectively. Human labor, fertilizer, cassava stem, machinery and fuel had positive effects on output. Fertilizer, cassava stem and machinery variables were significant at 0.1%, 1% and 5% significant levels respectively. R-squared was 0.93 and Durbin Watson statistic indicates no autocorrelation at 5% significant level, indicating that variables in the model were not dependent on each other and that changes in the value of one variable did not have any meaningful effect on other variables. All the variables contributed independently to the output

Exploring anti-corruption capabilities of e-procurement in construction project delivery in Nigeria

The use of electronic (e-) procurement to support the execution of supply chain management activities in the different industrial sectors is permeating all regions of the world. However, in countries in sub-Saharan Africa where there is a significant level of corruption and unethical practices in the procurement process, there is a need for a better understanding of how e-Procurement can help to check the incidence of corrupt and unethical practices in construction project delivery. This study relied on a cross-sectional survey of 759 respondents, including architects, builders, engineers, estate/facilities managers, contractors, construction/ project managers, quantity surveyors, supply chain managers and others to identify and analyse the anti-corruption capabilities of e-Procurement in construction project delivery in Nigeria. The results of the descriptive statistics, relative importance index and principal components analysis identified 18 anti-corruption capabilities in e-Procurement in construction project delivery with the three most important ones being the capability of e-Procurement to ensure good inventory management/record keeping; accountability by providing audit services trail