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LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND PATHWAYS TO EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT
Get PDFThis article delves into the legal and institutional frameworks designed to protect human rights in Nigeria, addressing the challenges and proposing pathways to effective enforcement. Utilizing a primarily doctrinal research methodology, it draws from various primary sources such as the Nigerian Constitution, Child Rights Act, and Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, alongside secondary sources like textbooks, journals, articles, and materials from organizations such as the NHRC and relevant websites. The article reveals that despite Nigeria\u27s establishment of institutional structures for human rights protection, these mechanisms are weakened by widespread abuses perpetrated by individuals, government bodies, and agencies. It advocates for bolstering transparency and accountability within these institutions through mechanisms that facilitate public oversight and reporting of human rights violations. Ultimately, the article underscores the importance of fortified institutions in cultivating trust and confidence among the populace, fostering engagement, and promoting transparent, impartial, and law-abiding governance.
Keywords: Human Rights, Institutional Frameworks, Safeguards, Nigeri
Distribution of Rubber Leaf Fall Disease in the Swamp Lands of Barito Kuala District
Get PDFSwamp land is a rubber development area in South Kalimantan and rubber plants are a leading commodity in South Kalimantan, second after palm oil plants. Starting in 2019, the rubber industry in Indonesia experienced an outbreak of leaf fall disease. This disease causes a decrease in latex production of up to 50%, even in advanced conditions, infected plants will rot and die without treatment. This research aims to study the distribution of rubber leaf fall disease in the swamplands of Barito Kuala district. A disease incidence and severity survey was carried out using a stratified random sampling method. It was observed that eight sub-districts in Barito Kuala district and Banjar district had swamp land that planted rubber. At four locations/villages in each sub-district, sample plants were taken, and it was determined that there were 25 plants diagonally. Disease incidence and severity parameters followed the International Rubber Research Development Board. The research revealed that rubber leaf fall disease has spread in four rubber-plantation sub-districts. All sub-districts surveyed were 100% affected by rubber leaf fall disease. The rubber leaf fall disease attack in the studied is quite severe with an average disease severity of 67%.
Keywords: Distribution, Leaf fall disease, Rubber, Swamp lan
Communicative and Language Patterns in Popular Slangs in Nigeria
No full text Abstract Communicative and language patterns in popular slangs (linguistic constructions used in an unusual way) in Nigeria show how unusual Nigerians can be with the slangs. This study investigates pragmatic features of slangs with a view to determining the relevance of the slangs and their communication purposes. Nineteen (19) popular slangs used in Nigeria in 2023 and 2022, as compiled by Tribune and Channels Television, were studied. The data and year were purposively sampled based on recency, while the media were based on the representation of print and non-print. Relevance theory is the framework that guided the analysis and the data were subjected to pragmatic analysis. The study found that social context, and call for happiness through humour and having good time were considered optimally relevant to Nigerians in 2022. In 2023, political context and issues—such as praise, calls for welfare, and mocking counsel to file a court complaint—were deemed optimally relevant. The study concluded that prioritization of happiness in 2022 and 2023 election were responsible for the different patterns of the slangs used. These patterns prove further the unusual nature of slangs
THE NIGERIAN LAW REFORM COMMISSION ACT 2022: OLD WINE IN A NEW BOTTLE?
Get PDFAs societies are in a constant state of flux, laws must be constantly refined or updated to catch up with and make provision for such changes, and in some cases, even contemplate future changes, dynamics and challenges. This requires that laws must be regularly reformed to keep them current and relevant. As a systematic process for updating and simplifying laws, law reform across jurisdictions is carried out mainly by special institutions or bodies created or mandated for that purpose. In Nigeria, the Nigerian Law Reform Commission is charged with the responsibility of reforming laws in the country, as empowered by its constitutive Act. While the Commission’s 2004 Act was essentially a relic of military rule and was largely censured for its inadequacy, impotence and inability to foster effective law reforms, its 2022 Act is perceived as a game changer. A cursory review of the 2022 Act however reveals copious and indeed striking similarities with the 2004 Act, thus questioning the novelty and distinction of the 2022 Act, particularly with respect to its ability to transform the Commission and enable it achieve its statutory objectives seamlessly. Against this background and relying on the doctrinal research methodology, this paper appraises the 2022 Nigerian Law Reform Commission Act with a view to ascertaining its ingenuity, potency and ability to transform the law reform process in Nigeria.
 
Navigating the Challenges of Integrating African Herbal Medicines: A Path to Universal Acceptance: Herbal Medicines
No full textHerbal medicine, deeply rooted in indigenous knowledge, presents a longstanding approach to global healthcare, particularly in Africa. This review comprehensively explores the holistic nature of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM), with specific emphasis on the significance of herbal medicine. Despite its long-standing use and efficacy, herbal medicine faces challenges in universal acceptance and integration into mainstream healthcare systems. Factors influencing acceptance, from inadequate standardisation to societal stigma, are examined comprehensively. Understanding the motivations behind herbal medicine usage, including prevention, curiosity, and natural beliefs, is crucial for shaping future healthcare policies and comprehending public attitudes. Global initiatives, exemplified by the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine, and national endeavours in countries like Nigeria and Ghana, underscore collaborative approaches. The review concludes by emphasizing the necessity of addressing divergent stakeholder perspectives for effective integration. Proposed strategies involve collaborative research, international endorsements, adverse-event reporting systems, governmental support, inventorying, botanical gardens, testing laboratories, standardised dosage norms, and education initiatives. These measures aim to seamlessly integrate traditional medicine into mainstream healthcare, promote evidence-based practices, and enhance regulations—crucial steps toward fostering acceptance. Addressing challenges and fostering acceptance is imperative for ensuring the safe and effective utilisation of traditional medicines, thereby enhancing healthcare outcomes and overall well-being globally.
Keywords: Herbal Remedies, Integrative Medicine, Traditional Medicine, Complementary Therapie
Rethinking Climate Change: Exploring the Intersection between Climate Change and Cattle Rustling in North-Western Nigeria
Get PDFNorth-western Nigeria faces significant vulnerability to the impact of climate change. In recent years, States that comprise the zone had increasingly experienced conflicts, such as farmers-herders clashes, cattle rustling, and rural banditry, a situation aggravated by the interaction of multiple factors related to the scarcity of natural resources such as loss of grazing lands, water scarcity, erosion, and drought-induced by the climatic changing condition. This paper, therefore, explored the intersection between climate change and cattle rustling in the North-Western part of the country. The paper argued that changingin climate influenced cattle rustling and rural banditry in the North-west. Employing a qualitative approach, this paper relies on secondary data and utilises descriptive content analysis as method of data analysis to provide an insight on climate change linkage with cattle rustling as an old and emerging organized crime in the North-Western part of the country
REVISITING THE CONCEPT OF JUSTICE IN INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT ARBITRATION: A WAKE-UP CALL TO SAVE A DYING SYSTEM
No full textAgainst the backdrop of the rising popularity of arbitration in settling international commercial disputes and increasing access to justice, generally, and the relevance of Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) and International investment arbitration (IIA), as subsets of international commercial arbitration, particularly, as well as the growing concerns about ISDS and IIA and the agitation for the reform of these twin-subsets of international commercial arbitration, this paper assesses the imperative of IIA tribunals giving human rights norms prime consideration in ISDS cases, as one of the multiple reform-strategies for ISDS and IIA, which should yield to continuing attraction of both ISDS and IIA, as major components of international commercial arbitration. The paper finds that IIA tribunals giving human rights norms adequate consideration in ISDS cases is, indeed, inevitable, as a strategy for the continuing attraction of both ISDS and IIA in international commercial dispute settlement and it makes valuable contributions in that regard.
Keywords: Arbitration, ISDS, IIA, Justice, Human Rights  
Predictors of Risky Sexual Practice among Undergraduates Using Social Media in Osun State University, Osogbo
Get PDFSocial media has become part of students\u27 lives with most undergraduates spending at least more than an hour on social media with various kinds of misuse including accessing adult materials. This study sought to determine the predictive powers of students\u27 socio-demographic characteristics on involvement in risky sexual practices when using social media. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey including 400 undergraduates selected from the Departments of English Language and Education & History in the Ikire Campus; Community Medicine and Physiology in the Osogbo campus; and Animal Science and Agricultural Economics in the Ejigbo Campus through a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of five sections with both univariate and bivariate analyses conducted using the SPSS software version 20.0. The mean age of the respondents was 16.4±3.7years, 65.2% were female, 26.5% were 100L students, 95.5% were single, 93.5% belonged to the Yoruba ethnic group, and 67.0% were Christians. Similarly, 97.2% of the respondents had access to social media, and 87.8% accessed social media frequently. Facebook (82.5%), WhatsApp (79.9%), and Twitter (73.3%) were the most used social media platforms. The majority (60%) were exposed to sexual risks, and 59% had a poor attitude towards risky sexual behaviour. Online dating without prior knowledge of the partner (58.8%) and viewing porn (37.3%) were the major risky sexual practices among the students. While the socio-demographic variables were associated with sexual practice, attitude, and sexual exposure since using social media, only age and gender were significantly associated with sexual practice and attitude respectively at P<0.05. With the consequences of unhindered access to social media among undergraduates especially on sexuality, the study therefore recommends a health education intervention to include a comprehensive sexual health education to all stakeholders in the parenting journey to produce morally upright youths in the society.
Keywords: Social Media, Risky Sexual Practices, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Undergraduate student
Molecular Characterization and Distribution of Malaria Vectors in three Agrarian Communities of Kano State, North West Nigeria
Get PDFMalaria vector abundance has been linked to certain agricultural practices. This work examined the impact of the agricultural practice of irrigation on the composition and seasonal distribution of malaria vectors in agrarian communities of Kano state. Longitudinal data collection was done four times a year, corresponding to different transmission seasons from early rains to late rainy season, early dry season to late dry season. Indoor-biting adult mosquitoes were collected using standard pyrethrum spray collection (PSC) techniques. Female Anopheles mosquitoes collected from houses were morphologically identified to species level. Molecular characterisation of the members of the Anopheles gambiae complex was carried out using PCR technique. Two thousand four hundred fifty-two (2452) adult female Anopheles species were collected throughout the study period. The Large Irrigation (LIC) and Urban Irrigation Communities (UIC) had a higher mean abundance of female Anopheles mosquitoes across seasons. There was a significant difference in the mean adult mosquito catch across the season (F =113.49, p≤0.001) and across the three communities (F = 44.73; p ≤0.001). Anopheles gambiae sl. was the most encountered among the four species, with a mean abundance of 11.94±11.76, 5.39±7.45 and 2.58 ±3.41 for LIC, UIC and NIC, respectively. Molecular characterisation of An. gambiae s.l. by PCR showed the presence of three sibling species, An. coluzzi, An. gambiae ss and An. arabiensis. An. Coluzzi was significantly more abundant across the three communities during the wet and dry seasons. The predominance of this species has implications for malaria control. This study shows that irrigation is likely to influence mosquito breeding, thus exposing community members to a higher risk of being bitten by infected vectors. A review of the ecology of Anopheles species, especially in urban environments, is needed, considering the current abundance of malaria vectors in the urban community.
Keywords: Seasonal, Abundance, Composition, Anopheles species, Irrigation, Urba
Islamic Perspectives of Family Planning: Implications for Population Control in African Context
Get PDFOf the 7.7 billion current world population, the Muslims account for 1.8 billion representing 24.1 percent. According to Mickeal Lipka et al. Islam (2017) is the world’s fastest growing world religion. In his postulation, Muslims will grow more than twice as fast as the overall world population between 2015 and 2060 and in the second half of this century will likely surpass Christianity as the world’s largest religion. While the world’s population is projected to grow 32 percent in coming decades, the Muslim population is expected to increase by 70 percent from 1.8 billion in 2015 to nearly 3 billion in 2060, representing31.1 percent which will be 3 in 10 of the world’s population