Banking Sector Reforms in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: A Review of Evidence

One of the most outstanding debates in recent times is whether government banking sector reforms promotes growth and development. Objectively, this study is quite significant as it empirically re-investigates the role of the Nigerian banking sector reforms especially of the fourth republic (2000-2010) on the economy. The study adopts the Granger-causality and Johansen  co-integration econometric approaches in the estimation procedure. Overall, evidence from the study shows that there is no link between fourth republic banking sector reform and economic growth in Nigeria, thereby contradicting the finance-growth nexus of Mckinnon and Shaw (1973) hypothesis. The study, therefore, concludes that any serious effort to ensure the strengthening of the banking sector should be preceded by the narrowing down of the interest rate spread. Moreover, the reform programmes of the Nigerian banking sector should be sustained so as to channel resources from the surplus sector (savings) to the deficit sector (investment) by putting in place appropriate macroeconomic policies that will engender productive activities and ensure sustainable economic growth. Keywords: Governance, Banking sector reform, economic growth, co-integration

Trade- GDP Nexus in Nigeria: An Application of Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Model

This study examined Trade-GDP nexus in Nigeria using the autoregressive distributed lag(ARDL) approach. The study covers the periods 1970-2012, employing data sourced from Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin of various issues. Econometric evidence revealed that trade openness; foreign direct investment and exchange rate were some of the key factors that explained the trade-GDP nexus in Nigeria. In addition, the estimated ECM result revealed 31% speed of adjustment between the dependent variable (RGDP) and independent variables (TOP, FDI and EXR). Findings from the study also showed that the endogenously determined variables of (TOP, FDI & EXR) are jointly significant in explaining changes in Nigeria’s economic growth. However, trade openness and exchange rate management influences economic growth negatively because of unfavourable terms-of-trade between Nigeria and her trading partners and the continuous depletion of the external reserves. We therefore recommend among others, expansion of the economy’s export base by complete diversification of the economy away from the oil enclave as well as effective exchange rate management in Nigeria by the monetary authorities. Keywords: Trade, economic growth, ARDL co -integration. JEL Classification: F43, F14, C3

Tax Revenue and Infrastructure on Composite Health and Education Development in Nigeria: A Simulation Approach

Insufficient allocation of resources and infrastructure remains two daunting challenges of human capital development in Nigeria despite government policy measures to efficiency of resources and infrastructure development. This paper examined the effect of tax revenue proxy by value added tax and infrastructure on composite health and education in Nigeria from the period 1980- 2021. This paper utilized the simulation approach in forecasting performance of the macroeconometric model. From the results, the following were observed: First, value added tax has positive and statiscally significan effect on government expenditure on education and health. This implies that an increase in tax revenue causes increase in government’s spending on education and health in Nigeria. Second, health is not a good channel through which tax revenue can be used to influence economic growth, relative to education. Education impacts more on human capital in Nigeria than health. Three, higher investment in infrastructure or higher infrastructure will increase economic growth and human capital development. Four, positive and significant relationship exist between value added tax revenue and government expenditure on education and health. This implies that increase in tax revenue causes increase in government spending on social and community services including health and education. Five, to increase human capital development in Nigeria, temporary tax revenue shock is sufficient. This implies that the growth reducing effect of government tax via permanent increase in value added tax revenue. Six, to increase human capital development in Nigeria, permanent infrastructure development and investment is required. From the results, the following were observed: First, value added tax has positive and statiscally significan effect on government expenditure on education and health. This implies that an increase in tax revenue causes increase in government’s spending on education and health in Nigeria. Second, health is not a good channel through which tax revenue can be used to influence economic growth, relative to education. Education impacts more on human capital in Nigeria than health. Three, higher investment in infrastructure or higher infrastructure will increase economic growth and human capital development. Four, positive and significant relationship exist between value added tax revenue and government expenditureon education and health. This implies that increase in tax revenue causes increase in government spending on social and community services including health and education. Five, to increase human capital development in Nigeria, temporary tax revenue shock is sufficient. This implies the growth reducing effect of government tax via permanent increase in value added tax revenue. Six, to increase human capital development in Nigeria, permanent infrastructure development and investment is required. The study recommended that: (i) The government should increase its investment on critical infrastructure to further bolster human capital development and by extension accelerate the rate of economic growth, (ii) The government should diversify its revenue base and expend more on health and education in addition to building a strong institutional framework to ensure the efficacy of government spending on both health and education. Keywords: Tax revenue, infrastructure, composite health, education, simulation , Nigeria JEL Codes: H24, I10, E27 DOI: 10.7176/JESD/14-6-04 Publication date:March 31st 202

Empirical Test of Hechscher-Ohlin Theory between Nigeria and USA

This study empirically tested if Nigeria patterns of production and trade are consistent with the Heckscher-Ohlin framework. The theory predicts that countries export the products that use their abundant factors intensively. As such, Secondary sources of data were collected from Central Bank of Nigeria and United Nation Conference on Trade and Development (UNTCTAD). The data for the study were transformed into nine sectors, namely manufacturing sector, Agricultural sector, mining sector, service sector, consumption sector, trade, Electricity, export and import sectors which formed the input-output table. The study utilizes an estimation methodology used by Leontief in the construction of input-output table. The study observed that the value of capital\labour ratio imported from U.S.A to Nigeria showed a value of (2.09) which exceeds the critical value of (1) or a representation of 55.7% of Nigeria total major imports from USA. This empirical result showed that Nigeria’s pattern of production and trade are inconsistent with the prediction of Heckscher-Ohlin theory. This is because; Nigerian experience has proven Heckscher-Ohlin theory a dynamic model as against static model argued by others. This is indeed a major departure of Nigerian experience of Heckscher-Ohlin theory from others countries of the world. As such, the key policy implication from the study is that Nigeria should shift her patterns of production and trade from capital intensive oil production to labour intensive agricultural production as capital is scarce resources in Nigeria and at the same time make intensive use of her relatively abundant endowed labour resources, rich soils and favourable climatic conditions. Though, the study observed that there are some agricultural commodity and activities that Nigeria cannot do without employing labour intensive, such as groundnut, cocoa and palm products harvesting. KEYWORDS: Heckscher-Ohlin theory, labour intensive, imports, input-output matrix & capital intensiv

Relationship of oxidative stress and antioxidant response with vaso-occlusive crisis in sickle cell anaemia

Background: Though sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is known to promote oxidative stress, there is paucity of information on the relationship between oxidative stress and vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC). Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship of oxidative stress and antioxidant response with VOC in SCA. Methods: A cross-sectional case-control study was carried out at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu Nigeria involving 116 individuals which included 36 SCA subject, 40 sickle cell carriers (AS) and 40 healthy individuals (AA). Baseline information as well as the frequency of VOC was obtained from the participants and anaemia as well as oxidative stress and antioxidant indices were assessed in blood. Results: Anaemia was prevalent (88.9 %) in SCA individuals compared to AS (52.5%) and AA (47.5 %) individuals. Nitric oxide scavenging (NOS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities as well as glutathione level were significantly (p<0.005) lower while catalase activity was higher in SCA individuals compared to controls (AA and AS). Higher malondialdehyde (MDA) level was associated with very severe VOC while low level of NOS activity was associated with severe VOC in SCA individuals. Conclusion: Sickle cell anaemia exhibited oxidative stress and alteration in the levels of antioxidant indices which was possibly associated with vaso-occlusive crisis

Distance education students’ indulgence in six sharp practices: General linear modelling of predictive parameters

This study examined the degree to which students indulge in six prominent misconducts in Distance Education Institutions (DEIs). The study also quantified how class size, instructional delivery and institutional policies predict students’ indulgence in sharp practices using a general linear modelling approach. A sample of 871 participants was drawn from 1,742 final-year students across two DEIs in Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire had acceptable psychometric estimates of dimensionality, content and construct validity, as well as reliability. Sharp practices such as cheating, plagiarism, falsification, impersonation, and arm-twisting were more prevalent in large classes, whereas only inducement was higher in small classes. Class size influenced students’ indulgence in sharp practices in DEIs. Instructional delivery and institutional policies negatively predicted students’ indulgence in the six sharp practices. Almost all the six sharp practices correlated positively and significantly, except for impersonation and inducement. Therefore, distance education students who cheat, plagiarize, arm-twist, falsify records, induce lecturers, and promote impersonation are more likely to indulge in other forms of sharp practices. It was concluded that large class sizes, poor instructional delivery, and poorly implemented institutional policies promote sharp practices among distance education students. Based on this conclusion, key policy and research implications are discussed

A randomised comparison of deferasirox versus deferoxamine for the treatment of transfusional iron overload in sickle cell disease

Deferasirox is a once-daily, oral iron chelator developed for treating transfusional iron overload. Preclinical studies indicated that the kidney was a potential target organ of toxicity. As patients with sickle cell disease often have abnormal baseline renal function, the primary objective of this randomised, open-label, phase II trial was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of deferasirox in comparison with deferoxamine in this population. Assessment of efficacy, as measured by change in liver iron concentration (LIC) using biosusceptometry, was a secondary objective. A total of 195 adult and paediatric patients received deferasirox (n = 132) or deferoxamine (n = 63). Adverse events most commonly associated with deferasirox were mild, including transient nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and skin rash. Abnormal laboratory studies with deferasirox were occasionally associated with mild non-progressive increases in serum creatinine and reversible elevations in liver function tests. Discontinuation rates from deferasirox (11·4%) and deferoxamine (11·1%) were similar. Over 1 year, similar dose-dependent LIC reductions were observed with deferasirox and deferoxamine. Once-daily oral deferasirox has acceptable tolerability and appears to have similar efficacy to deferoxamine in reducing iron burden in transfused patients with sickle cell disease

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. Methods The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk-outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. Findings Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4.45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4.01-4.94) deaths and 105 million (95.0-116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44.4% (41.3-48.4) of all cancer deaths and 42.0% (39.1-45.6) of all DALYs. There were 2.88 million (2.60-3.18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50.6% [47.8-54.1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1.58 million (1.36-1.84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36.3% [32.5-41.3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20.4% (12.6-28.4) and DALYs by 16.8% (8.8-25.0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34.7% [27.9-42.8] and 33.3% [25.8-42.0]). Interpretation The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.Peer reviewe

Pattern of substance abuse among adolescent secondary school students in Abakaliki

Background: Substance abuse is a rising public health problem especially among adolescents the worlds over. Abuse of substances exposes the youth to several physical and psychological consequences. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and pattern of substance abuse amongst secondary school students in Abakaliki and identify factors predisposing to substance abuse. Methods: A cross section survey of 620 senior secondary students (SS2 and 3) using the WHO drug use questionnaire. Results: A prevalence of substance abuse was 32.9% alcohol being the most commonly abused substance. Substance abuse was more amongst males, older students, persons from divorced home and orphans. It was however less amongst those who frequently participated in religious activities. Conclusion: Substance abuse is high among secondary school students in Abakaliki and alcohol is the most commonly abused substance