The Ecological Consequences of Conversion of Agricultural Lands into Housing Estates in the Subequatorial Regions of Nigeria: the Ikot Nkebre Episode in Calabar

In the course of the 20th century, the theatre of intensive urbanization shifted from the Global North to the Global South. At the beginning of that century there was yet no megacity in the world; the most highly populated city at the time (London) had a population of 6.5 million people. Not even one of the world’s ten largest cities belonged to the Global South. By the end of the century, six of the world’s ten largest cities (all megacities) were located in the Global South. In order to keep pace with these phenomenal rates of rapid urbanization cities have been labouring under unprecedented scenarios of urban growth; culminating in urban encroachment on peri-urban forestlands or farmlands. In this study this situation has been investigated at Ikot Nkebre (in the peri-urban districts of Calabar, Nigeria), where a whole farming settlement has been converted into an urban housing district in less than one decade. The study has shown the two unpleasant ecological consequences: urban poverty and inappropriate management of stormwaters. In conclusion it has been shown that with correct management of the situation, significant ecological assets could have been derived out of these scenarios. Keywords: agricultural lands, ecological consequences, urban growt

Application of Delta Classification Algorithm in Land Cover Change Detection in a Semi-Arid Environment of Northern Nigeria

This study attempts to reveal Land use /land cover changes (LULCC) using multi-temporal and multi spectral satellite images in a semi-arid environment of northern Nigeria. Three separate Landsat satellite images for 1986, 1996 and 2001 were employed in this research. The study utilized Delta classification algorithm. The three images were separately classified before change in land use/land cover (LULC) was detected. Out of the seven detected LULC types in the study area, Scrubland, Woodland, and Riparian vegetation decreased while scattered cultivation, Settlement /built-up areas, Reservoir/water body and bare sand surface/rock out crops increased over spatial and temporal scales. Similarly, seven change scenario patterns were identified manifesting various patterns of change in the study area. The research revealed a gradual deforestation from grassland into agriculture, settlements/built-up areas and bare sand surfaces over the spatial and temporal scales. More researches are required that monitor and assess the trends of LULCC in this ecologically fragile environment

Effects of Management Practices on Soil Nutrient Levels in Sabke Catchment Area, Nigeria

In Nigeria’s drylands, profitable crop production requires adequate soil fertility management. This study examines the effects of farmer-managed practices on soil fertility in Sabke catchment of the drylands. Seven sites under permanent cropland, fallow land, grassland, shrubland, orchard land, intercropping land and woodland distributed on four transects were selected across the catchment. At every site, five replicate soil samples were collected from 0-15cm (topsoil) and 20-30cm (subsoil) and analysed for C, N, P, Ca, Mg, K and Na. Higher topsoil values of most of the properties were observed under cropland and intercropping sites. The two cultivated plots receive annual applications of organic manure in addition to chemical fertilizer and crops residue retention while the other plots are not. Thus, improvement in soil organic matter and nutrients would be expected in soils of the area with high rate of application of manure and chemical fertilizer, and retention of crop residue

Assessment of healthcare waste generated by some selected public hospitals in Katsina State, Nigeria

This article has been retracted by the journal Editor.Healthcare wastes include anatomical, pathological and clinical infectious/ hazardous organic and inorganic waste. The waste is disposed off in unscientific manner. The study has been conducted in the government hospitals only to reveal the per day waste generation on each patient, present mode of waste management within the units bed, our suggestions which will help the units to improve their waste management practices, in Katsina State, Nigeria.Keywords: Waste management, Health care waste, Management Katsina Stat

An Assessment of Sedentary Pastoralists Perception of Climate Change in and around Forest and Grazing Reserves of Semi-arid Areas of Northern, Nigeria

The study was aimed at assessing the Sedentary Pastoralist perception of Climate Change in and around Grazing and Forest Reserves in Semi-Arid Area of Northern, Nigeria: A total of 125 questionnaires were administered in five selected grazing and forest reserves of the study area using an accidental sampling method. The data for this study were generated using questionnaire administration and interview with community leaders (Ardos). The data generated were analyzed using descriptive statistics in formof percentage and narrative form. The study shows that 42.20% of the respondents are of the view that deforestation and overcultivation were the major factors influencing climate change. However 36% of the respondents further confirmed that the increase in the emergence of dry years was the major indicator of climate change, followed by the late onset of rainfall with 27.2%. Furthermore, 44% and 40% of the respondents admitted that climate change has significantly and partially affected water availability while 52% and 41.6% reported having noticed that climate change has significantly and partially affected the availability of pasture resources. This study concluded that human environmental intervention such as deforestation, over-cultivation among others were major factors influencing the rate of climate change in the area. The study further recommended that pastoralist should adopt to develop more resilient practices locallyto cope with the impact of climate change, provision of solar and wind-powered boreholes as alternative waters sources to the sedentary pastoralists as well as the need for the desilting of degraded surface water bodies to make them more productive. Keywords: Sedentary Pastoralist, Climate Change, Forest/Grazing Reserves, Semi-arid

Ground receiving station reference pair selection technique for a minimum configuration 3D emitter position estimation multilateration system

Multilateration estimates aircraft position using the Time Difference Of Arrival (TDOA) with a lateration algorithm. The Position Estimation (PE) accuracy of the lateration algorithm depends on several factors which are the TDOA estimation error, the lateration algorithm approach, the number of deployed GRSs and the selection of the GRS reference used for the PE process. Using the minimum number of GRSs for 3D emitter PE, a technique based on the condition number calculation is proposed to select the suitable GRS reference pair for improving the accuracy of the PE using the lateration algorithm. Validation of the proposed technique was performed with the GRSs in the square and triangular GRS configuration. For the selected emitter positions, the result shows that the proposed technique can be used to select the suitable GRS reference pair for the PE process. A unity condition number is achieved for GRS pair most suitable for the PE process. Monte Carlo simulation result, in comparison with the fixed GRS reference pair lateration algorithm, shows a reduction in PE error of at least 70 % for both GRS in the square and triangular configuration

Nonprofit Accountability: Effects of Subsector on Online Accountability

Scandals within the nonprofit sector over compensation and management have increased calls for nonprofits to demonstrate accountability. Many organizations have responded by disclosing information online and providing tools that allow web-based interactions with stakeholders. The literature on nonprofits’ online accountability has found that the level of nonprofit online accountability is affected by their size, age, asset, revenue, and location, but hasn’t been examined in terms of how subsector influences online accountability. Through a web-content analysis of fifty-five nonprofits, this research investigated how subsector (arts and culture, education, health, and human services) influences online accountability using a framework of four types of online accountability: financial disclosure, performance disclosure, stakeholder input, and interactive engagement. The findings show that subsectors differ depending on the type of accountability being measured. Except for asset size, previous findings regarding revenue size, personnel size, and location were confirmed. Also, this research found that the arts and culture subsector demonstrated higher online accountability than health nonprofits. Human services nonprofits are more engaged in financial disclosure than organizations in the health subsector. Finally, it was found that as personnel size increases, stakeholder input and interactive engagement increases