WATER, SANITATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN URBAN FRINGE SETTLEMENTS IN NIGERIA

The importance of water and sanitation facilities has been reflected in the measurement of human development and in their inclusion in Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Water and sanitation facilities attain a unique situation at the urban fringe. This study is focused on the investigation of the supply of water and sanitation facilities in the fringe settlements along a development corridor of Minna, Nigeria. This corridor is attracting development from both federal and state institutions including large scale housing development. The settlements are outside the limits of water mains for the city of Minna and have received little attention in the provision of water and sanitation facilities. The present state of water and sanitation in these settlements connote low human development and stand at risk to the health of the people. The danger of serious impact on health with current urbanization of these settlements calls for re-evaluation of a laissez-faire approach that leaves the residents to informal adjustment. Against these backgrounds, the objectives of this paper are to investigate access to water and sanitation facilities in the urban fringe settlements, to determine the adequacy of these facilities; to investigate coping mechanisms by the people, to understand the burden of water search and how these are likely to affect health and human development and to discuss how integrated community-based efforts could improve water and sanitation facilities in the settlements.water, sanitation, deprivation, poverty, human development.

A Sociolinguistic Survey of Yoruba and Ashanti Naming Re-engineering: The Case of Nigeria and Ghana

تبحث هذه الدراسة في كيفية توظيف البشر وثقافاتهم الأسماء التي يتم عبرها تعريفهم او مناداتهم. لذلك فإن هذه الدراسة عبارة عن مسح لتقاليد التسمية بين مجموعتين عرقيتين في منطقة غرب إفريقيا الفرعية وهما مجموعة اليوروبا في نيجيريا والأشانتي في غانا. إذ تم تحليل أسماء مختلفة مع معانيها وأصولها من تقاليد اليوروبا وأشانتي عن طريق استخدام تقنية أخذ العينات عن قصد لاختيار كبار السن في مجتمع أوفا بعد أن تم الحصول على موافقتهم في البداية وإجراء مقابلات معهم بناءً على تجربتهم. كما تم الحصول على البيانات من مكتبات ونصوص عائدة لهاتين الثقافتين. لقد وجدت الدراسة أن التسمية، بوصفها تقليدا، هي ظاهرة اجتماعية لغوية مهمة ، تعود ممارستها إلى زمن نشأة الخليقة. ووجدت الدراسة أن الأسماء في ثقافتي اليوروبا والأشانتي تمنح وفقًا لخصائص جسدية وروحية واجتماعية واقتصادية، وأسماء اليوم، والأسماء المنسوبة للخالق أو تلك المأخوذة عن الانكليزية. تكشف الدراسة أن القاسم المشترك في تقليد التسمية للمجموعتين العرقيتين اللغويتين هو نظام معتقدات الشعوب. العديد من الأسماء الثقافية مشتقة من الله أو الآلهة أو المزار أو الكهنة ، ومن أمثلة هذه الأسماء تلك التي تعطي معنى "هبة الخالق" و"خادم الرب" إذ يتم استخدام العديد من هذه الأسماء بوصفها بادئة أو لاحقة أو لاحقة بحسب الحالة. لذلك، تم التوصل إلى أن المجموعتين العرقيتين، على الرغم من أنهما ليسا من نفس البلد، تشتركان في بعض السمات العرقية والمجتمعية المشتركة على هذا النحو.This study investigates how that human beings and their cultures have names by which they are designated or called. This paper therefore, is a survey of naming tradition between two ethnic groups in West African Sub-region namely Yoruba ethnic group in Nigeria and Ashanti ethnic group in Ghana. Various cultural names with their meanings and origins from the two traditions of Yoruba and Ashanti were analysed. Purposive sampling technique was used to select elderly people in the Offa community whose consents were initially sought and interviewed based of their experience. Data were also obtained from libraries and texts. It was found that naming as a tradition, is an important sociolinguistic phenomenon, the practice of which dates back to the biblical time of creation. The study found that names are given in Yoruba and Ashanti cultures according to circumstances such as physical, spiritual, socio-economic, day names, theosophoric or Anglicisation surrounding the birth of a child. The study reveals that the common denominator in the naming tradition of the two ethnolinguistic groups is the peoples’ belief system. Many cultural names are derived from God, gods, goddesses, deities, shrine or priests, and such names are Nyamekye and Oluwatosin. Many of such names are used as a prefix, suffix or infix as the case may be. It was therefore, concluded that the two ethnic groups, though not from the same country, share certain common ethnographic and ethnological traits as such, name practices and re-engineering between the two traditions of Yoruba and Ashanti are very intriguing and revealing

An Assessment of English Language Influence on Anglophone Countries’ Cultures

The focus of this paper is to assess the influence of English language on Anglophone countries’ cultures. The advent of missionaries’ activities in the Anglophone countries through the medium of English language vis-à-vis its power and influence were highlighted to signify that the power and influence exerted by this language (English) over shadowed the African traditional beliefs such as in religion, education, marriage system, among others. A 10 item researcher-designed questionnaire based on 4Likert scale type of Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree and Strongly Disagree was dispensed on 180 respondents from three geo-political zones of Nigeria. However, only 176 respondents made their questionnaire available that was computed for this study. The instrument was revalidated thus producing a reliability index of 0.61. The finding revealed that highest percentage of the respondents strongly agreed that the Englishman’s language has greatly influenced African cultures, especially that of Nigeria both positively and negatively. As a result of this, it was concluded that of all the heritages left behind in the British colonies by the British colonial overlords, probably, none is more important than the English language, and that is why it is indeed very likely that for some time to come, English will remain a vital access to global advances which is very essential for gaining access to science and technology, and that it is possible that the Anglophone countries could grind to a halt should the use of English language be outlawed for say five minutes. Based on the findings and the conclusion, it is therefore recommended that Africans, especially Nigeria cannot be an island to itself, and if it must have any global outlook it must embrace foreign influence and culture so that Africans as a whole and indeed Nigerians would fit into any global condition regardless of their cultural background

Toxic effects of endosulfan on haematological and biochemical indices of Clarias gariepinus

The effects of endosulfan pesticide were investigated on juvenile of Clarias gariepinus. Acute test was carried out using 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07 and 0.08 ppm of endosulfan pesticide with the 96 h LC50 value determined by probit analysis. Chronic bioassays were evaluated on haematological and biochemical indices of the fish for a period of 60 days using four sub lethal concentrations (0.0005, 0.0010, 0.0025 and 0.0050 ppm). Blood sample was collected on days 15, 30, 45 and 60 for haematological and at day 60 only for biochemical analysis. The 96 h LC50 value of endosulfan for C. gareipinus was 0.052 ppm. There was significant reduction (P<0.05) in red blood cell (RBC) at days 15, 30 and 45, haemoglobin (Hb) at days 15 and 45, and packed cell volume (PCV) at all days of the evaluation. White blood cell (WBC) values however showed significant increase (P<0.05) at days 45 and 60. There were variations in mean values of mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) with significant increase observed only at day 15 of MCHC. Significant reduction in values was obtained for total protein and globulin while significant increase was observed in cholesterol. Results obtained in this study suggest that exposure to low concentrations of endosulfan induced stress and altered the haematological and biochemical indices of treated fish.Key words: Chronic, acute, biochemical, haematological, endosulfan, cholesterol and glucose, Clarias

Cytogenotoxic effects of cypermethrin, deltamethrin, lambdacyhalothrin and endosulfan pesticides on Allium cepa root cells

Increased pesticides application in agriculture and public health has contributed to the pollution of the environment. This study evaluates the cytogenotoxic effects of emulsifiable concentrate of cypermethrin, deltamethrin, lambdacyhalothrin and endosulfan on Allium cepa root cells. Five concentrations (1.0, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0 and 40.0 ppm) of each pesticide were used for microscopic (48 h) and macroscopic (72 h) evaluations with distilled water as the control. Data were analyzed by Student's ttest. A dose dependent reduction in A. cepa root length was observed for the pesticides. Significant reduction in treated root length was observed at 10.0 ppm of deltamethrin, cypermethrin and lambdacyhalothrin, and at 20.0 and 40.0 ppm of all the pesticides compared to the control (P<0.05). The EC50 values showed growth inhibition in the order of lambdacyhalothrin > cypermethrin > deltamethrin > endosulfan, while that of total aberrant cells was cypermethrin > lambdacyhalothrin > deltamethrin > endosulfan. Microscopic aberrations observed in the pesticide-treated onions include sticky chromosomes, disturbed spindle and chromosome bridges. Dose dependent reduction was observed in the total mitotic dividing cells and mitotic index of the pesticide-treated A. cepa, except for 5.0 ppm of endosulfan. The pesticides induced growth inhibition and caused cytogenotoxic effects on the meristematic cells of Allium cepa. The data herein provide more information on the pesticides of which exposure to substantial concentration might constitute health risk to non-target organisms.Keywords: Pesticides, mitotic aberration, pyrethroid, organochlorine, growth.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(41), pp. 6000-600

Evaluation of some Heavy Metals in Soils along a Major Road in Ogbomoso, South West Nigeria

Evaluation of the concentration of soils metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, and Ni) from selected sites (Odo Oba, Sabo and General Areas) along a major road in Ogbomoso was made in comparison with control site, LAUTECH Campus (LC) based on contamination factor and pollution indices. The metal levels in the sites revealed that: General > Sabo > Odo Oba > LC for the analyzed metals except Fe of which highest value was obtained in the control site. Contamination indices showed that Sabo and general were considerably polluted while Odo Oba was moderately polluted relative to control. The values of pollution level index obtained for these three sites (PLI >1) indicates deterioration of site quality. Significant correlation between some of the metals (Pb, Cr and Ni) studied and average daily traffic volume showed that the contamination could be from automobile emissions. The accumulation of these metals in soil especially in the residential areas may add to the body burden of the residents. Further investigation is highly necessary to study the concentrations and health implications of these metals in residents of the linear settlements along this major road in Ogbomoso. Key words: Heavy metal, Traffic volume, Pollution, Soil, Ogbomos

Radio Frequency Propagation Mechanisms and Empirical Models for Hilly Areas

Achieving better network performance is a paramount concern in wireless networks. This paper provides a survey of the basic mechanisms which influence the propagation of electromagnetic waves in hilly areas. Three empirical models: COST231-Hata, Okumura-Hata and Egli which are suitable for path loss prediction for such area are presented. By using these propagation models the broadcast signal strength are predicted for this type of environment. Measurement results of signal strength in UHF band obtained in Idanre Town of Ondo State Nigeria are presented and compared with the results predicted by using the propagation models. A modified COST231-Hata radiowave propagation model was developed and implemented with Matlab GUI (Graphical User Interface) for simulation. The model developed has 93.8% accuracy.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.11591/ijece.v3i3.251

Nanoparticles-surfactant foam and crude oil interaction in porous media

Nanoparticles and surfactant stabilized foams have versatile applications in enhanced oil recovery process. The synergistic advantages of surface tension reduction by surfactant and nanoparticles adsorption at the foam lamellae can be exploited for producing foam with high foamability and longtime stability in the oil producing reservoir. However, the influence of nanoparticles on the static and the dynamic stability of conventional foam is not yet explicit due to limited studies. Moreover, only few studies have considered the pore-scale mechanisms of the nanoparticles-surfactant foams flow process in porous media and the minimization of surfactant adsorption in presence of nanoparticles. Due to limited research in this area, this study was conducted to understand the influence of silicon dioxide (SiO2) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles on the surfactant foam bulk and dynamic stability and surfactant adsorption on clay mineral. Four main experimental studies comprising the influence of the nanoparticles on surfactant adsorption on kaolinite, bulk and bubble-scale foam stability evaluation in presence of oil and salts, pore-scale visualization studies in etched glass micromodels, and fluid diversion process experiments were conducted. Results of this study showed that the adsorption of surfactant on clay mineral reduced drastically by 40% and 75% in presence of Al2O3 and SiO2 nanoparticles, respectively. The maximum adsorption of surfactant on the nanoparticles occurred at 0.3 wt % sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The foam bulk and bubble scale stability results indicated that 1 wt % of SiO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles enhanced the stability of the foam in presence of oil and salts. There was a transition salt concentration beyond which the foam stability increased with increasing salt concentrations. The presence of Al2O3 and SiO2 nanoparticles prevented the entering of emulsified oil into the foam lamellae and decreased the transition salt concentrations. From the results of the pore scale studies, the dominant mechanisms of foam propagation in water-wet system were lamellae division and bubble-to-multiple bubble lamellae division. The dominant mechanisms of residual oil mobilization and displacement by the foam in water-wet media were found to be direct displacement and emulsification of oil. The dominant mechanism of foam propagation and residual oil mobilization in oil-wet system was identified as the generation of pore spanning continuous gas foam. Inter-bubble trapping of oil and water, lamellae detaching and collapsing of SDS-foam were observed in presence of oil in both water-wet and oil-wet systems. Generally, the SiO2- SDS and Al2O3-SDS foams propagated successfully in oil-filled water-wet and oil-wet systems. Bubble coalescence was prevented during film stretching. The results of the fluid diversion process indicated an effective diversion of fluid in layered macroscopic model with permeability ratio of 8:1 in presence of SiO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles. The outcomes of this research is a major breakthrough in prospective field applications of nanoparticles-surfactant foams in oil-filled water-wet and oil-wet porous media

Seismic stratigraphic analysis for hydrocarbon exploration in the Beta Field, Coastal Swamp Depobelt, Niger Delta

Hydrocarbon exploration analysis from a seismic stratigraphic approach was carried out within the Beta Field, Coastal Swamp Depobelt, Niger Delta, to identify system tracts and sequence boundaries that could be associated with potential hydrocarbon accumulation. 3D seismic volume and data from four wells were analyzed. Depositional sequences, system tracts, sequence boundaries, and candidate maximum flooding surfaces were picked from logs, while reflection patterns and terminations were interpreted from seismic sections. Log shapes from gamma rays in combination with seismic facies analysis were interpreted in order to delineate lithology, depositional environments and depositional sequences. Seismic attributes were extracted and were draped on gridded surfaces from the interpreted seismic horizons. These were integrated with structure maps to obtain structural and stratigraphic trends, and the possible presence of reservoir sand. Five depositional sequences and nine seismic facies were identified within the field. The depositional sequences were designated Sequences S1 to S5 based on the depth of the occurrences and stacking patterns. This study reveals a progression from fluvial depositional settings to the shelf. The main reservoirs identified are the sand units of the highstand and lowstand within three depositional sequences (S1, S4 and S5) although interbedded sands within the TST of S4 and S5 are also suspected of being potential reservoirs. The channel sand deposits within the study area are suspected to be hydrocarbon bearing as they occurred within the complex fault trapping system popular in the Niger Delta. The application of seismic stratigraphy, as shown in this study, serves to encourage exploration in the Niger Delta where it could be effectively employed for reducing risk in hydrocarbon exploration

An Extended Tropospheric Scintillation Model for Free Space Optical Communication Systems

Fluctuations caused mostly by tropospheric scintillation at the free space optical receiver end have been a major problem in the rapid development of telecommunication and the increasing demands for larger bandwidth is forcing the use of free space optical (FSO) technology. This paper examined existing tropospheric scintillation models of Karasawa, Van de Kamp model, Otung, Ortgies and ITU-R, and discovered that all of them operate at the microwave range, which limits their application in FSO laser beam technology that operates in PHz frequency-range. ITU-R model was later selected owing to its global application and modified for use in FSO communication system. The new model can serve as basis for communication engineers to use as platform in the link budgetary for planning and design of low margin systems of free space optical communication link