Federal University of Kashere Journals
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Effect of Fuel Subsidy Removal on Tomatoes Production in Garun Mallam Local Government Area, Kano State, Nigeria
Get PDFThe study examined the socio-economic impact of the fuel subsidy removal on food scarcity inNigeria, with a specific focus on tomatoes production in Garun Mallam Local Government Area,Kano. The research aimed to assess how the removal of fuel subsidies has affected tomatoesproduction, analyze its socio-economic consequences, and identify potential solutions to mitigatethe negative effects. The study relied on the Price Pass-Through Theory as its theoreticalframework and adopted a survey method, using questionnaires and in-depth interview as themain instrument for data collection. The study found that the fuel subsidy removal significantlyincreased production and transportation costs for tomatoes farmers. Higher fuel prices led togreater expenses in transporting tomatoes to both local and regional markets, which resulted inreduced supply and fewer deliveries. The study also highlighted a decline in the volume oftomatoes available for sale as farmers faced challenges in meeting market demand, due to thehigher costs of production and transportation. This ultimately impacted the profitability andproductivity of tomatoes farmers. The study contributes to knowledge by highlighting theinterconnectedness of fuel prices, agricultural productivity, and food security in Nigeria. It alsoprovides insights into the challenges faced by farmers in rural areas, particularly in adapting tothe economic implications of national policy changes. The study recommends that the Nigeriangovernment provide targeted subsidies for essential agricultural inputs, such as fertilizers, seeds,and irrigation equipment, to help mitigate the rising production costs caused by the fuel subsidyremoval among other recommendations
Women Prospects and Challenges in the Nigerian Politics: A Study of Yola North Local Government
Get PDFThis paper examines the participation of women in politics in Adamawa State, Nigeria, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that shape their political engagement. Despite constituting a significant proportion of the population, women remain underrepresented in political offices and decision-making positions. The study identifies cultural and social barriers, limited education and economic empowerment, political party dynamics, and violence and intimidation as major obstacles to women's political participation. However, constitutional provisions, gender activism, political will, and international support offer opportunities for increasing women's political representation and empowerment. A descriptive survey research methodology was adopted for this study. This approach primarily uses a questionnaire as the instrument for the data collection in the study. However, the study adopts interviews for more detailed information on the phenomenon. The population of the study include women primary in politics, People Democratic Party (PDP) and Progressive Congress (APC) party officials, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff at the INEC headquarters in Yola North, and the number of electorates. Moreover, the study adopted the probability sample technique for data collection, and it used the following formula: [ɛ= ()] to find out the number of samples required for the study and the sample size was 284 respondents: The paper recommends gender-sensitive policies, political party reforms, voter education, and economic empowerment to address the challenges and harness the opportunities. By promoting women's political participation, Adamawa State can enhance democratic governance, development, and gender equality
Governance and Food Insecurity in Nigeria: The Nexus
Get PDFThe Nigeria's persistent food insecurity paradox despite its vast agricultural potentials, underscores the debilitating effects of bad governance. This study employs the theory of primitive capitalist accumulation to examine the relationship between governance failures and food insecurity in Nigeria. Relying on secondary data from reputable sources, including academic journals, reports from international organizations, and government documents, this research reveals how Nigeria's governance landscape perpetuates food insecurity. The analysis highlights how primitive accumulation manifested through land grabbing, displacement of smallholder farmers, and exploitation of agricultural resources, exacerbates food insecurity. Furthermore, the study identifies corruption, patronage politics, and weak institutional frameworks as key governance failures undermining Nigeria's food security. The findings suggest that addressing food insecurity in Nigeria requires transformative governance reforms that prioritize the interests of smallholder farmers, promote equitable land distribution, and ensure transparency and accountability in agricultural policies
Interrogating the Autonomy of the Nigerian State in Managing Farmer-Herder Conflict: Perspectives on Cases in Katsina State
Get PDFThis paper employs classical Marxist theory of the State to interrogate the autonomy of the Nigerian State in the management of farmer-herder conflicts in the country with particular reference to the cases in Katsina state between 2016 and 2021. The paper adopts survey research method of an ex post facto type to elicit data from respondents using structured questionnaire, unstructured oral interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) as research instruments which were complemented by a review of extant body of literature. The major findings of the study revealed that in such a society where there are both the poor and the rich such as in the case of crop farmers and cattle herders in Nigeria, the State is expected to function, among other things, to maintain cohesion among the groups by ensuring the safety, security and well fare of all, and at the same time maintain its domination to manage the mode of production to reinforce class consciousness and struggles. However, in Nigeria, the post-colonial State enjoys not merely the relative autonomy that the State under developed capitalism has, but rather, has a distinct relative autonomy by virtue of its direct and obvious role in the economy, security and production, and that the State is able to dispense with the usual mediatory role of policies expected to provide for peace, security of lives and property. The State in the under-developed social formation is invariably characterized by weak and dependent economy as well as other features unique to its insecurity and under-developed institutions
Decentralised Policing System and Insecurity in Nigeria: An Opinion Survey of Residents of Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State
Get PDFThe study explored the opinions of the people of the Ovia Northeast Local Government, Edo State, regarding the increasing public opinion on decentralising the security system in Nigeria. The study was anchored on concentric circle theory that postulates that security management should begin from the community level, to the state level and the federal level for effective results. A sample of 400 residents of the Local government Area was obtained, and 352 questionnaires were returned. The data obtained were analysed with simple percentages, the mean and the standard deviation. The study found that respondents supported the creation of a state policing system backed by law in Nigeria; believe there will be no security implications for having state police because they believe that state actors will not hijack state police, collude with criminals to perpetrate crimes, use guns to steal from people or extort people; and believe that state police will be effective in tackling insecurity because they will work in the interest of the people rather than the Nigerian government. Based on these findings, the study, therefore, recommends that the National Assembly should amend the 1999 Constitution to accommodate the state policing system
The Role of International Organizations in Conflict Resolution: Case Studies of the UN and EU in Africa
Get PDFThe role of international organizations in conflict resolution is crucial in maintaining global peace and security, particularly in conflict-prone regions such as Africa. This study examines the involvement of the United Nations (UN) in resolving conflicts on the continent, with a focus on its peacekeeping missions, mediation efforts, sanctions, and diplomatic interventions. Using the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and Sudan (UNAMID and UNITAMS) as case studies, the research evaluates the effectiveness, successes, and challenges of the UN's interventions. The findings reveal that while the UN has made significant contributions in reducing large-scale violence, supporting democratic transitions, and providing humanitarian assistance, its missions often struggle with logistical challenges, political constraints, and operational inefficiencies. The study highlights the need for enhanced collaboration between the UN, regional organizations such as the African Union (AU), and local governance structures to ensure sustainable peace. The paper concludes that structural reforms, increased funding, and stronger political will are essential for improving the effectiveness of UN-led conflict resolution efforts in Africa
Comparative Assessment of The Antibacterial Activity of Ethanolic and Aqueous Extract of Annona muricata against Staphylococcus aureus
Get PDFIn indigenous medicine, natural products particularly those derived from plants have long been utilized to support human health. Annona muricata is widely used in folkore medicine by indigenous people in South America and Africa because of its purported therapeutic benefits. This study was conducted to explore he phytochemical constituents and also ascertain the antibacterial activity of ethanol and aqueous extracts of Annona muricata leaf (soursop) leaves against Staphylococcus aureus. The extracts were screened qualitatively for the presence of phytochemicals and tannins, saponins, flavonoids and alkaloids were present. Antibacterial susceptibility profile of the isolate with standard antibiotics as well as the antibacterial activity of the plant extracts was determined using disc and agar diffusion method respectively. The inhibition zones of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Annona muricata against Staphylococcus aureus were 37 ± 4.7 mm and 25 ± 3.75 mm respectively at 100 mg/ml concentration. The HPLC analysis of the phytochemicals revealed the presence of Limonime, Licorice, Geraniol, Strychnine, Chlorogenic acid, Quinine, Squalene and some unidentified compounds. This study revealed the antibacterial activity of crude Annona muricata leaf extracts against the clinical isolate in comparison to some standard antibiotics. Further research on the isolation and characterization of the bioactive agent in the plant is required to provide a variety of novel components for drug discovery
Evaluation of Seed Morphometrics, Germination and Oil Content of Collected Castor Landraces
Get PDFCastor (Ricinus communis L.) is a valuable non-edible oilseed crop with industrial and medical applications, known for its high seed oil content (35–65%) and ricinoleic acid (85–90%). This study evaluated seed morphometrics, germination, and oil content of 15 castor landraces collected from six sites in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. Morphological traits such as stem color, leaf petiole texture, seed color, and size were analyzed, revealing significant variability. Light green stems (73.3%), dark chocolate seeds (66.7%) were predominant, while white, and light brown seeds were rare. Seed size varied, with small seeds (60%) being most common. Germination parameters showed high variability: germination percentage ranged from 32.67% to 78.00%, with a mean of 55.82%, while mean germination time varied from 3.78 to 8.75 days. Seed oil content ranged from 23.89% to 41.77%, with Samples 15 (41.77%) and 14 (39.72%) exhibiting the highest yields. Morphometric analysis using ImageJ software revealed significant differences in seed traits such as area, perimeter, and circularity, indicating diverse seed shapes and sizes. Correlation analysis showed weak relationships between seed morphometrics and oil content, suggesting that seed size and shape are poor predictors of oil yield. The findings highlight the genetic diversity among castor landraces in Ilorin, with implications for breeding programs aimed at improving oil yield and germination performance. The study underscores the need for integrated approaches combining morphological, biochemical, and genomic data to optimize castor cultivation for industrial applications
Economic Analysis of Corchorus olitorius Production in Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Get PDFThe study analyzed the cost and returns of Corchorus olitorius L., vegetable production within three local government areas in Ebonyi State, which were Ezza South, Izzi and Ohaozara LGAs. Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted for data collection to select the respondents used for the study. A total number of 72 respondents were interviewed. The result revealed that the age range of 31 to 40 had the highest percentage with 34.7% suggesting that the farmers are experienced and young in the study area, females 65.3% were major producers while majority of the respondents were married 41.7% and households with 6 to 10 persons 43.1% having the highest sizes. Education-wise, a few percentage possess tertiary qualifications 19.4%, and just 29.2% lack formal education, implying they`ve had a relatively high level of basic education. Approximately 37.5% have 6 to 11 years of farming experience. Profitability analysis revealed that the total revenue generated by the vegetable farmers in the study area was ₦48,240,000 with a net revenue of ₦15,476,000 and a gross margin of ₦23,760,000. The rate of return was 47.23% implying its production was profitable. For factors affecting vegetables production in the study area, most of the variables were all positive and significant with R2 value of 0.820 implying that the model accounted for 82.0% of the variability in vegetable production. The major constraints faced by vegetable farmers were competition from other producers, lack of labor and invasion of farms by cattles
Tissue Residue Profiles and Histopathological Alterations induced by Enrofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin in Albino Rats
Get PDFThe widespread use of veterinary antibiotics, particularly fluoroquinolones like enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, has raised serious concerns about tissue residue accumulation and toxicological effects in animal products consumed by humans. This study investigated the tissue residue levels and histopathological effects of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin in the liver and kidney of albino rats. Fifteen (15) female albino rats (weighing 120 to 160 g) were obtained from a certified animal breeding center in the University of Ibadan, Oyo State. Tissue residue levels of Enrofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin were quantified using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The fixed tissue samples (liver and kidney) were processed through standard histological procedures. Result revealed that high-Performance Liquid Chromatography showed that enrofloxacin accumulated more in the liver (1.92 ± 0.23 µg/g) than the kidney (0.88 ± 0.15 µg/g), while ciprofloxacin accumulated more in the kidney (2.41 ± 0.25 µg/g) than the liver (1.27 ± 0.19 µg/g), with all treated groups significantly different from controls (p < 0.05). Histologically, treated rats exhibited vascular congestion, hepatocellular necrosis, fatty change, glomerular atrophy, and tubular epithelial necrosis, whereas controls showed normal architecture. Based on the findings, it was therefore recommended that veterinary practitioners should regulate the dosage and duration of fluoroquinolone use in animals to minimize hepatic stress and prevent toxic accumulation in the liver. Farmers should strictly adhere to drug withdrawal periods before slaughtering animals to ensure that harmful antibiotic residues are cleared from liver tissues