Setting the law straight: Tanganyika Law Society & anor v. Tanzania and exhaustion of domestic remedies before the African Court

The rule of exhaustion of domestic remedies is an integral part of the right of individuals to bring international claim against a State. This rule is expressly required in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Protocol of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Nevertheless, as the various types of domestic remedies and the various circumstances in which they are pleaded by respondent States are still unfolding, the jurisprudence of the African Court is understandably at an infantile stage and continues to undergo development and refinement. This short comment examines the view of the African Court, following that of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, that non-judicial remedies are not valid remedies that need to be exhausted before claims are brought before the African Court by individuals. It is argued that this is an unduly wide and indiscriminate proposition that would have the effect of unjustifiably excluding administrative remedies that may have effectively remedied a breach if approached by individuals before coming to the African Court. It was consequently argued that there is need for reconsideration now before the view becomes too entrenched

Improving Environmental Protection in Nigeria: A Reassessment of the Role of Informal Institutions

The success of an approach or strategy for the implementation of legal instruments in one country does not imply that the same approach or strategy would be successful when replicated in another country because there is no ‘one-size-fits-all approach’ to policy implementation. The rationale for the above assertion is that institutions play a major role in the success of any policy. Undoubtedly, institutional approach provides a solid foundation to explore the interplay between formulation of policies and their effective implementation. Therefore, for an environmental policy to be successfully implemented, the institutional peculiarity of the country must be considered. This article explores the role of informal institutions (embedded institutions) in policy implementation focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa with specific focus on Nigeria. It provides theoretical basis for an informal institutional approach in environmental policy implementation. This article suggests that the institutional approach can be extended to environmental protection and management through informal institutions

Mammograms and breast arterial calcifications: looking beyond breast cancer: a preliminary report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To find out the prevalence, clinical and biochemical correlates of Breast Artery Calcification (BAC) in the Nigerian women.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>This is a cross sectional study involving 54 consecutive adult female subjects sent to the Radiology Department of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja-Lagos, Nigeria for screening and diagnostic mammography. The study was carried out for a period of five months.</p> <p>The prevalence of BAC was 20%. Ageing was found to be related to BAC. Cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, obesity, alcohol ingestion, use of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy, were not significantly related to the presence of BAC in this study.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study showed that though the presence of BAC in a mammogram is related to age, it may not predict or serve as a significant marker for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in women in our environment.</p

Health workforce and governance: the crisis in Nigeria

Background In Nigeria, several challenges have been reported within the health sector, especially in training, funding, employment, and deployment of the health workforce. We aimed to review recent health workforce crises in the Nigerian health sector to identify key underlying causes and provide recommendations toward preventing and/or managing potential future crises in Nigeria. Methods We conducted a scoping literature search of PubMed to identify studies on health workforce and health governance in Nigeria. A critical analysis, with extended commentary, on recent health workforce crises (2010–2016) and the health system in Nigeria was conducted. Results The Nigerian health system is relatively weak, and there is yet a coordinated response across the country. A number of health workforce crises have been reported in recent times due to several months’ salaries owed, poor welfare, lack of appropriate health facilities and emerging factions among health workers. Poor administration and response across different levels of government have played contributory roles to further internal crises among health workers, with different factions engaged in protracted supremacy challenge. These crises have consequently prevented optimal healthcare delivery to the Nigerian population. Conclusions An encompassing stakeholders’ forum in the Nigerian health sector remain essential. The national health system needs a solid administrative policy foundation that allows coordination of priorities and partnerships in the health workforce and among various stakeholders. It is hoped that this paper may prompt relevant reforms in health workforce and governance in Nigeria toward better health service delivery in the country

Exploration of the Corrosion Inhibition Potential of Cashew Nutshell on Thermo-Mechanically Treated Steel in Seawater

This study explores the non-edible part of Cashew nutshell for possible conversion to useful product as a corrosion inhibitor for thermo-mechanically treated steel (TMT) in seawater. Herein, methanolic Cashew nutshell extract is examined as a corrosion inhibitor for TMT in seawater. The extract is rich in compounds such as saponins, phenol, and terpenoids according to results obtained from phytochemical analysis. The inhibitive performance of the extract was assessed using the gravimetric, spectroscopic, and electrochemical methods complemented with scanning electron microscope studies. The extract is effective in controlling the corrosion of TMT in seawater with 500 ppm capable of exerting over 75% inhibition efficiency at 30 °C for as long as 15 days. Results from spectroscopic studies [ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)] reveal that the extract inhibits the TMT corrosion by adsorptive mechanism using the oxygen atoms and the aromatic rings that characterized the extract's components. However, the protection efficiency of the extract slightly depreciated with rise in the temperature of the corrosive medium. The surface morphological studies show evidence of extract components adsorption on the TMT surface, and the FTIR results confirmed the observation. The Cashew nutshell extract could be a sustainable source for the formation of an effective corrosion inhibitor for TMT, which is a common engineering material in seawater environment

Mechanical and durability assessment of concrete containing seashells: A review

This study reviews recent literature on the mechanical and durability properties of concrete incorporating seashells as partial or full substitutes for conventional materials. The study summarizes various contributions elucidating the various waste seashells utilized, the growing worldwide aquaculture production, seashell material preparation and treatment, chemical composition, physical properties, and different mechanical and durability test methods adopted by previous studies such as compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, freeze-thaw resistance, water permeability, air content, chemical attack, carbonation, and weight loss. The study showed that mechanical properties indicate reductions of different percentages with increases in substitution ratio at 5% to 75%, compared to control mixes. However, relative increases in mechanical strength were recorded with the increase in curing age up to 90 days. Influence of seashells on durability properties varied across various durability tests at different seashell percentages. In a nutshell, the use of seashells in concreteproduction has a good effect, and further innovative research can solidify its utilization in the drive towards sustainable development

Waste materials in highway applications: An overview on generation and utilization implications on sustainability

The rate at which the construction industry explores and consumes non-renewable natural aggregates and other industrial products such as bitumen, lime, and cement during construction and rehabilitation of road pavements has over time proven to be environmentally degrading and non-sustainable. This, alongside the issues of high solid waste generation and inadequate disposal, has led to series of studies by various researchers to find methods to integrate these solid wastes as alternative materials in road construction and maintenance. This paper provides a simple yet detailed review of recent relevant studies conducted to understand the alarming rate of generation and the effects of reusing these waste materials in both flexible and rigid pavements. The review further outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the selected waste materials and compare the results with that of conventional materials in accordance with relevant standards while highlighting the performance, and life cycle environmental and economic sustainability implications. The study shows that the adoption of these materials offers efficiency in waste disposal while reducing the demand for natural aggregates and consequently, significantly reducing life cycle impacts and costs. The challenges limiting the effective practical implementation of these waste recycling techniques in the construction industry were discussed and possible solutions were suggested to encourage and ensure its utilization in road construction

Waste materials in highway applications: An overview on generation and utilization implications on sustainability

The rate at which the construction industry explores and consumes non-renewable natural aggregates and other industrial products such as bitumen, lime, and cement during construction and rehabilitation of road pavements has over time proven to be environmentally degrading and non-sustainable. This, alongside the issues of high solid waste generation and inadequate disposal, has led to series of studies by various researchers to find methods to integrate these solid wastes as alternative materials in road construction and maintenance. This paper provides a simple yet detailed review of recent relevant studies conducted to understand the alarming rate of generation and the effects of reusing these waste materials in both flexible and rigid pavements. The review further outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the selected waste materials and compare the results with that of conventional materials in accordance with relevant standards while highlighting the performance, and life cycle environmental and economic sustainability implications. The study shows that the adoption of these materials offers efficiency in waste disposal while reducing the demand for natural aggregates and consequently, significantly reducing life cycle impacts and costs. The challenges limiting the effective practical implementation of these waste recycling techniques in the construction industry were discussed and possible solutions were suggested to encourage and ensure its utilization in road construction