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2D Resistivity Tomography Survey for Leachate Plume from Isundunrin Poultry Disposal Pits
Get PDFManagement of dead birds in poultry farms has been a major problem in Nigeria. This study aimed at using 2D resistivity tomography to outline leachate plume from disposal pits in a poultry farm. 2D electrical resistivity tomography were conducted along three profiles, two of which were 3.0 m and 25.0 m respectively to the two available mortality pits (Pit1 and Pit 2) while the third was 300.0 m away from the mortality Pit 1. Profile length of 100.0 m each and interspaced 5.0 m oriented in the North-East (Profile 1), South-East (Profile 2) and North-East (Profile 3) directions respectively was covered. 2D resistivity data inversions were performed on the obtained converted apparent resistivity using DIPROWIN software. Five water samples collected from five different hand dug wells available within the poultry farm were analysed for hydro chemical parameters. 2D results showed conductive paths occurrence in transverse one at the depth of 5.0 m, a horizontal distance of 45.0 m to 55.0 m, and had migrated down to the depth of 10.0 m. The second traverse showed varying resistivity values ranged 7.0 Ω m to 31.0 Ω m up to a depth of 15.0 m, an indication of the presence of clay soil. Low resistivity values ranged 14.0 Ω m to 49.0 Ω m were recorded in traverse 3. The extent of the contaminant is prominent at the topmost part of the soil and to almost 10.0 m depth. This was attributable to the contaminant from the deposit site of faeces of the poultry. Hydro chemical analysis indicated high values of Conductivity and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). This confirms the migration of leachate from the disposal pits to the surrounding soils and groundwater and the 2D results obtained from disposal Pit 1. Other alternative methods of disposing dead birds are hereby recommended.
Keywords: Contamination; dead birds’ mortality pits; profile length; 2D resistivity tomograph
The State in Conceptual and Theoretical Parlance: Reflection on Security Challenges in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic
Get PDFThe objectives of this article are in twofold. First, the article undertakes a critical conceptual and theoretical analysis of the state with focus on concept and the emergence of the state. Second, it assesses the performance of the Nigerian state vis-Ã -vis security issues in the Fourth Republic. Adopting the historical qualitative research design and through a critical examination of extant secondary data and the adoption of the social contact theory and the political economy approach as the theoretical framework of analysis it finds that the inability of the Nigerian state to provide adequate security for the lives and properties of its citizens is the major driving force of ethnoreligious cum socio-political conflicts. This has put the nation in the comity of fragile states. The study, however, concludes by suggesting that there is an urgent need on the part of the government to put in place adequate and effective security measures to stem violent conflicts in the polity
ECOWAS: Trajectory from Economic to Regional Security Organisation
Get PDFThis paper analyses the evolution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from an economic bloc to a regional security organisation (RSO). Relying on ‘New Regionalism’ to explain the shift in emphasis from economic integration to a holistic political union, the paper argues that non-traditional security threats faced by ECOWAS member-states facilitated evolution. These threats include pandemic diseases, violent territorial disputes, regional economic and political crises, terrorism, poverty, human migratory pressures, illicit transfer of small arms and light weapons and food security. Others are environmental degradation, transnational organised crimes, fake drugs and narcotics, insurgency, sectarian religious crises, conflicts over scarce resources, and foreign military presence in West Africa (US, France and others). These threats were exacerbated by superpower disengagement from the security architecture of the sub-region, thus the emergence of a security community and regional security complex with its attendant shared commitment to mutual security. 
Sulh as Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism for Marital Conflicts among Muslims in Ilorin, Nigeria
Get PDFThis paper appraises Sulh (Reconciliation) as an alternative mechanism for resolving marital dispute in Ilorin, Kwara state of Nigeria. Cases of marital conflict among Muslim couples are very rampant in the city, leading to a significant rise in the spate of divorce, separation, single parenthood and domestic violence. This paper identifies the sources and effects of marital dispute on the family in Ilorin and discusses the simulative methods of using Sulh for resolving such dispute. The study relies on secondary data by analyzing existing works on the subject matter. The paper finds that the primary sources of conflict among Muslim couples in Ilorin include incompatible marital vision, unmet expectations, financial difficulty, job loss and bareness. The use of Sulh by Muslim mediators in Ilorin follows the Shari’ah (Islamic law) method of mediation that includes solicited or unsolicited intervention of external mediator, identification of conflict issues and resolution of conflict through pleas and soft bargaining. It is concluded that the application of Sulh in Ilorin, though with its limitations, is a credible alternative dispute resolution mechanism with promising outcomes. The Kwara state government should introduce Sulh to decongest the conventional courts and improve the alternative justice system in Ilorin
Development of an Intelligent Pipeline Vandalism Detection and Reporting System
Get PDFLeaks in pipelines due to vandalism have always been a great concern due to loss of life, the implied risks and its associated costs. This has become even more critical with hazardous fluids that pose risk to life and the environment. In view of this, leak-detection systems play an important role in safeguarding pipeline operation by helping operators to quickly identify and react to spills. This paper aims to develop and demonstrate the use of an Intelligent Pipeline Vandalism Detection and Reporting System (IPVDRS) in detecting possible vandalism of petroleum pipelines in our environments. The system was developed using Visual Basic.NET technology. The system was able to interpret the readings of the remote sensors on the pipeline, detects compromise and trigger an alarm, creating the GPS coordinates of the triggered sensor on a map.
Keywords: Vandalism detection, Gas pipelines, Vibration threshold, Report syste
Challenges of Democratic Leadership and Governance at the Grassroots in Nigeria: 1999-2015
Get PDFThis paper examines the concepts of democratic leadership and governance at the grassroots level in Nigeria from 1999-2015. It appraises the qualities of leadership in a democratic setting in view of the fact that Nigeria being a transition society is laden with a plethora of problems in her process of democratisation, such as weak institutional framework, absence of constructive opposition at the grassroots level and inadequate political education. The study evaluates the impact (if any) of democratic leadership on governance at the grassroots level in Nigeria. It equally review the success, failures, strengths and challenges of democratic leadership at grassroots level in Nigeria. Finally, the study makes some suggestions that could improve democratic leadership and governance at the grassroots level in Nigeria. Primary and secondary data were obtained. Primary data were obtained from interview conducted on both traditional and political leaders in some selected communities and government officials in rural and community development ministries while secondary data was obtained from published books, journal articles, newspapers etc. Data collected was analysed using simple descriptive analysis. The result reveals that the country has not demonstrated enough seriousness and sincerity of purpose in the manner in which the grassroots administration was operated. It is further discovered that the election of political functionaries at the grassroots level in Nigeria is not largely determined by the local people rather, it is subjected to the influence of political executives at the state level. Finally, the study recommends the full implementation of 1999 constitutional provisions for a more effective operation of grassroots administration.
 
Comparative Antimicrobial Analysis of Chitosan Nanoparticles With Gentamicin And Chloramphenicol
Get PDFChitosan has attained increasing commercial interest as suitable resource materials due to their excellent properties including biocompatibility, biodegradability, adsorption and ability to form films and to chelate metal ions. Antibiotics resistance has become rampant and nanoparticles are increasingly used to target microorganisms as an alternative to antibiotics. The research was conducted to produce and synthesize nanoparticles using the extract of chitosan and test the antimicrobial activity against some selected bacteria. Chitosan was produced by demineralization, deproteinization and deacetylation of oyster shell. The silver nanoparticle was synthesized from Chitosan and screened for in vitro antimicrobial activity against selected bacteria using agar well diffusion method. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV-VIS spectrophotometry, FTIR spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Chitosan nanoparticles showed some inhibiting properties against the growth of most of the organisms tested (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi). Most of the isolates were inhibited by both extracts. The positive control which was chloramphenicol and gentamycin inhibited the growth of all organisms except Salmonella typhi.
Keywords: Chitosan, Silver nanoparticles, Agar well-diffusion, SEM, FTI
Progress in Carbon Nanotube-Based Electrochemical Biosensors – A Review
Get PDFThe use of carbon nanotubes (CNT) for fabrication of sensors and biosensors has increased considerably over the past decade. This review covers the progress and advances made during the years (2014-2018) in the utilisation of carbon nanotubes for fabrication of electrochemical biosensors. The focus of the review is on reported CNT-based biosensors for detection of important substances, such as glucose, H2O2, (DNA), ascorbic acid, uric acid, dopamine, metal ions, and pesticides. The review starts by first discussing the structures and properties of CNTs, followed by discussion of some of the synthetic methods for CNTs preparation. The working principles and performances of CNT-based biosensors are then discussed. Considerations for future developments in CNT-based biosensors are also outlined.
Keywords: Biosensors, Carbon nanotube, Functionalisation, Glucose, Nanomaterial
Regional Integration in West Africa and Globalization of Nigerian Direct Foreign Investments
Get PDFAfter successive developmental strategies have not appreciably improved Africa\u27s economic situation since the 1960s, a decade of independence, but indeed, have contributed to Africa\u27s stagnation, African leaders, at the dawn of the 21st century, grasped the sobering fact that Africa\u27s salvation lies not only on embarking on radical socio-economic transformation of their societies/economies but also adopting policies of collective self-reliance through economic and political integration.
This study examines regional economic integration in West Africa within the context of challenges of globalisation and argues that Nigerian enterprises should take advantage of the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Capital, services annexed to the Treaty of Lagos, 1975 and Goods and frantic efforts at West African monetary integration and relocate their production facilities, among others, to the West African sub-region
Analysis of Experimental Solar Radiation Data for Osogbo, Nigeria
Get PDFAn analysis of measured global solar radiation (GR) in Osogbo (7.77oN, 4.57oE, 288m) is presented in the form of hourly average, monthly average and percentage frequency distribution. The experimental data corresponds to a year data of 2017. The results reveal that the monthly average values of daily total radiation exhibit seasonal variation with maximum value in dry season month of March (16.59MJ/m2) and minimum value in wet season month of August (8.98 MJ/m2). The annual average GR value is 14.20 MJ/m2 while the annual cumulative GR is 5122 MJ/m2. The solar radiation climate of Osogbo has also been compared to those reported for a number of locations. The percentage frequency of days possessing irradiation rate greater than 15 MJ/m2 is 14 percent whereas that possessing less than 10 MJ/m2 is 61 percent. We conclude, based upon the above analysis that Osogbo is characterized by relatively low global solar radiation.
Keywords: Global solar radiation, Cumulative frequency, Measured, Season