A COMPARISON OF WETLAND VALUATION PURPOSES IN LAGOS METROPOLIS AND THE NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA

Valuation assignments are carried out for various purposes usually determined by the client. Various studies showed that, in addition to the general purposes, wetland valuation could also be required for conservation, rating of oil installations and environmental restitution. The study compared wetland valuation purposes between Lagos Metropolis and the Niger Delta, Nigeria. A total of 163 copies questionnaire were retrieved from Lagos Metropolis while 72 were retrieved from the Niger Delta. In analysing the primary data collected, frequency tables and percentage were adopted. The study revealed that respondents perceived wetland as swampy land, marchland, poorly drained land and infested land. Also the study showed that wetland resources are majorly carried out for loan facilities (98.8%, RII = 4.15) and advice on sales (85.1%, RII = 3.49) in Lagos Metropolis while the prominent purposes for wetland valuation in the Niger Delta are compensation (94.4%, RII = 3.85), rating of oil installations (69.4%, RII = 3.76) and environmental restitution (66.7%, RII = 3.31). The study recommends that NIESV and ESVARBON should compel institutions offering Estate Management to include environmental valuation as a core course and also organise regular professional training/workshop for practicing Estate Surveyors and Valuers. Also, NIESV should incorporate environmental valuation in the curriculum for professional examinations

An Examination of the Structure of Sustainable Facilities Planning Scale for User Satisfaction in Nigerian Universities

Universities are under increasing pressure to demonstrate that continuous performance improvement is being delivered for user satisfaction, but the importance of facilities planning as a student-staff focused tool needs to be emphasised. This research sought answers to questions relating to the underlying structure of sustainable facilities planning and user satisfaction, and the number of factors that make up the facilities planning scale. Three universities from the south-western part of Nigeria were selected randomly using ownership structure to define the cases: University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso and Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji Arakeji, each representing the Federal, State, and Private ownership. A questionnaire survey was used on a random sample of 651 staff and students from the three universities. Six hundred questionnaires were retrieved (response rate of 92.2%). An exploratory factor analysis was used to understand the responses and the interrelationships. The results showed a two-factor solution of ‘locational advantages and user needs’ and ‘adequacy of facilities/functional connection and four core determinants for acceptance. It is concluded that universities should factor student-staff focus points into their facilities planning schemes to optimise their service deliveries. The study contributes to the discussion on factor structure of sustainable facilities planning scale with a focus on students and staff of universities. Keywords: Facilities planning, universities, data structure, factors, Nigeria

Bioremediation of engine-oil polluted soil by Pleurotus tuber-regium Singer, a Nigerian white-rot fungus

White-rot fungi have been used in various parts of the world for bioremediation of polluted sites. Pleurotus tuber-regium was noted to have the ability to increase nutrient contents in soils polluted with1 - 40% engine-oil concentration after six months of incubation. P. tuber-regium increased organic matter, carbon and available potassium 5.19%, 2.99% and 0.97 meq/100 g respectively compared to4.41%, 2.56% carbon and 0.66 meq/100 g, respectively in the control. However, higher values of 0.32% nitrogen, 11.42 ppm phosphorus and pH 6.94 were obtained in the control compared to 0.16% nitrogen,9.32 ppm phosphorus and pH 5.93 in soils incubated with the fungus. The fungus brought about an increase in copper content in engine oil polluted soils at 10% concentration followed by a decrease at 20 and 40% concentrations. Bioaccumulation of zinc and nickel was recorded at 20% engine-oil concentrations

Security Implications of Free Movement for Countries of the Economic Community of West African States

This paper examines the security implications of free movement of people in the member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). In doing so, it explores the nature and dynamics of the security challenges which the Protocol on free movement has generated for the member states of this sub-regional organisation, and how these fed into and intensified the security problems bedeviling the sub-region over the past decades. The focus on the Protocol, which was adopted in 1979, is informed by the fact that it has, in the last couple of decades, been exploited by criminals to perpetrate all manners of nefarious activities, notably human trafficking, drug trafficking, small arms and light weapons trafficking, smuggling of contraband goods, cross-border armed robbery and banditry, kidnapping for ransom and terrorist activities, all of which constitute serious security concerns to the sub[1]region. It is important, for example, to note that the relative ease with which trafficking and terror gangs traverse the sub-region and carry out targeted attacks on innocent people as well as public and private facilities is directly linked to the provisions of the Protocol which, among other things, abolished requirements for visas and entry permit for Community citizens travelling within the region. The study found out that criminals travel within the region without documents as stipulated by the Protocol and illegally smuggle prohibited goods across national boundaries. It also revealed that ECOWAS does not have a computer database and this makes it difficult for border officials to document the identities of travelers, making it easier for people to commit crimes without being identified. The study discovered that this illegal movement has not only impacted negatively on human security but has also impeded intra regional efforts at ensuring security and sustainable development within the sub-region. The paper recommends that a special regular joint-border patrol should be put in place as a way of strengthening the existing collective regional security framework in West Africa. Both primary and secondary data were used for this study. Primary data were sourced through the conduct of in-depth interviews while secondary data were obtained from relevant textbooks and journals. The analysis of data generated was essentially qualitative, using descriptive and content analyses. The theoretical framework adopted for analysing this work is critical theory, which gives primacy to non-state national and transnational actors rather than making the state the primary referent of security. This theory offers more convincing explanations on how non-state criminal groups have taken advantage of the free movement Protocol of ECOWAS to perpetrate terrorism and trafficking of people and goods, with all their negative security implications.   &nbsp

THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL FOUNDATIONS OF NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY DURING THE SECOND REPUBLIC: LESSONS AND ALTERNATIVES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

This study examines the socio-economic and political foundations of Nigeria’s foreign policy during the Second Republic and their lessons in charting a new path in the 21st Century. It explores how neo-colonialism, within the context of an international capitalist economy, intensified class antagonism, socio-economic and political contradictions, which impinged negatively on the foreign policy initiatives and postures of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983. Drawing insights from the Marxist political economy approach, this fresh study departs from the common orientation of economic determinism by focusing on the complex interplay between the political, economic and social subsystems through the historical materialist approach to which little attention has hitherto been paid. The study made use of primary data through the conduct of interviews and also relied on secondary sources. The study found that the distorted and peripheral role ofdependent neo-colonial Nigeria in the world capitalist economy, its sole reliance on oil and the neglect of agriculture generated socio-political and economic crises that constrained it from pursuing viable foreign policy goals during the period under study. The paper concluded that the pursuit of bold and impactful foreign policy goals by Nigeria depends on its ability to reactivate the non-oil sector of its economy, particularly the agricultural and manufacturing sectors

Waist–Hip Ratio and Breast Cancer Risk in Urbanized Nigerian Women

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between waist–hip ratio and the risk of breast cancer in an urban Nigerian population. Methods: Between March 1998 and August 2000, we conducted a case–control study of hospital-based breast cancer patients (n = 234) and population-based controls (n = 273) using nurse interviewers in urban Southwestern Nigeria. Results: Multivariable logistic regression showed a significant association between the highest tertile of waist–hip ratio and the risk of breast cancer (odds ratio= 2.67, 95% confidence interval = 1.05–6.80) among postmenopausal women. No association was found in premenopausal women. Conclusion: The present study, the first in an indigenous African population, supports other studies that have shown a positive association between obesity and breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women

Bioremediation of soil contaminated by spent diesel oil using Pleurotus pulmonarius Fries (Quelet) and its effects on the growth of Corchorus olitorius (L)

Objectives: To investigate the potential of Pleurotus pulmonarius in the bioremediation of soil contaminated with spent diesel oil at 5, 10 and 15% (v/w) level of contamination over a period of one and two months of incubation.Methodology and results: A pure culture of P. pulmonarius was obtained from the Plant physiology unit of the Department of Botany, University of Ibadan Two sets of control were used. In the first set of control treatments, no contaminant ( spent diesel oil was added to the soils while in the second set, different levels of oil were added to all soils but no inoculation with the fungus). Inoculation was done by adding 10 g of vigorously growing spawn of P. pulmonarius. The soil was contaminated with spent diesel oil to achieve 5 %, 10 % and 15 % (w/v).. The results showed a significant increase (at p3 0.05) in the nutrient contents of the soil samples at all level of contamination compared to the uncontaminated but there was no significant difference in the pH after two months of incubation with P. pulmonarius. The organic carbon increased from 2.176 to 6.960 at 0% and from 7.126 to 8.010 at 15 % level of contaminations. Organic matter increased from 3.765 to 12.03 at 0% level of contamination and from 12.32 to 13.84 at 15%. Phosphorus increased from 15.807 to 18.940 at 0% and 16.017 to 20.627 at 5% level of contaminations while Potassium increased from 0.660 to 0.783 at 0% and 0.540 to 0.837 at 10% level of contamination. The Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) degradation (% loss) was 84.41% at 5%, 64.87% at 10% and 44.27% at 15% level of contamination. . A significant (p 30.05) reduction in concentration of the heavy metals Cu and Zn after two month of incubation with P. pulmonarius suggested bioaccumulation. The Copper content reduced from 0.033 to 0.014mg/kg at 0% oil contamination and from 0.027 to 0.021mg/kg at 15% oil contamination while Zinc reduced from 0.076 to 0.059mg/kg at 0% oil, and from 0.057 to 0.056mg/kg at 15% oil contamination. There was an improvement in the growth of Corchorus olitorius in remediated soil at all level of contamination compared to the control. Plant growth in the remediated soil was 11.18 cm high after the sixth week while the control plant was 4.23 cm at 5% level contamination.Conclusion and application: The fungus P.pulmonarius has been found from this study to be a potential white rot fungus that can bioremediate soil contaminated with diesel oil and that the remediated soil was able to support the growth of the test plant at all level of contaminations. The biotechnology is a cost energy input that can also fetch the farmer some income.Key words: Bioremediation, Spent diesel oil, Degradation, P. pulmonarius, Soil nutrient conten

Cultivation and fruit body production of Lentinus squarrosulus Mont. (Singer) on bark and leaves of fruit trees supplemented with agricultural waste

The mycelia growth of Lentinus squarrosulus culture on the leaves and bark of common fruit trees were investigated. The effect of supplementing these fruit trees with 25% each of rice bran, horse dung, poultry droppings, cow dung, fresh cassava flour and oil palm waste fiber on the mycelia growth of this fungus was also observed. All the substrates supported the growth of the fungus, while supplemented substrates gave higher mycelia growth. The best mycelia growth was recorded on the leaves of Spondias mombin with 8.90 cm length. Among the supplements, rice bran gave the highest mycelia growth of 10.43 cm on S. mombin. Fruiting of the fungus on the logs of the best two substrates commenced after 28 days of inoculation and occurred every four days. The highest yield of fruit bodies and the best biological efficiency was obtained on the log of S. mombin, while the leaf substrates did not fructify even after 35 days of inoculation.Keywords: Lentinus squarrosulus, supplements, fruit body, biological efficiency

Bioremediation of oil-polluted soil by Lentinus subnudus, a Nigerian white-rot fungus

Inspite of the realization and studies on the use of microorganisms in degrading hydrocarbons there has been very little work on indigenous white-rot fungi in Nigeria, a leading oil – producing country. the ability of Lentinus subnudus to mineralize soil contaminated with various concentrations of crude oil was tested. Organic matter and carbon were higher than the control at all concentrations of crude oil contamination in soils inoculated with L. subnudus for 3 months. Nutrient contents were generally higher after 6 months of incubations except potassium levels which were not significantly different from the control. As for the total petroleum hydrocarbon (tph) in crude – oil contaminated soils; the highest rate of biodegradation was at 20% concentration after 3 months and 40% after 6 months of incubation.Key words: bioremediation, crude oil, total petroleum hydrocarbon oil-polluted soil, Lentinus subnudusAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (8), pp. 796-79