Governance, Human Security, Safety and Rule of Law in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic from the Twin Eye of WGI and IIAG

Safety and Rule of Law has been on persistent trial in Nigeria since the independence of 1960 and the return to democratic governance of the republic for the fourth time in 1999 after several military interregnums did not abate the experience. It plays out through attacks on the judicial system, denial of citizens to official information, threats to personal lives as well as civil and domestic armed conflicts among others. The study examines the indicator performance and perception of Nigerian government in Overall Governance (OG) as well as Safety and Rule of Law. It seeks to achieve this through the examination of the World Governance Index (WGI) and Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) data. The data were generated from continental, global and institutional documents. The study found out there is deficit and gap between the government and the citizens with evidence in the negative perception and performance recorded. It thus suggests the strengthening of democratic institutions, enhancement of rule of law, combating corruption, improving social service delivery to lessen the threats of human and national security as well as governmental openness for improved participation, involvement and improved delivery by government across the levels of government.

The Community–Based Poverty Reduction Projects (CPRP), Poverty Reduction and Development in Yobe State Nigeria: A Pilot Study Report

This paper examines the impact of the Community-Based Poverty Reduction Project (CPRP) in alleviating poverty in selected benefiting communities in Yobe State. Purposive and simple random sampling was used to select the area of study and respondents. Questionnaires, Focus Group Discussion and Key Informants Interview were also used to collect data. The data was presented by the use of simple percentage and frequency tables, graphs and charts. Data was analysed through the use of ANOVA. The discourse, guided by the Basic Needs Theory found out that even though the concept for which the CPRP was adopted has been achieved, e.g. community participation and provision of 838 micro-projects in the whole of Yobe State, the micro-projects or basic needs infrastructure implemented are not adequate and wide-spread enough to reduce poverty in concrete terms. It however reduced the stress of people in accessing some basic needs e.g. water supply in some communities. The paper recommends that to effectively achieve poverty reduction, there should be sustained commitment of funding and maintenance of projects by respective stakeholders for holistic and widespread approach to poverty reduction in Yobe State. Nonetheless, this paper maintains that the CPRP poverty reduction intervention is a viable tool for the provision of basic needs infrastructure in rural communities to set the path for development of Yobe State.

Accounting Regulation and Financial Reporting Quality: Pre-and-Post IFRS Nigeria Evidence

The purpose of this study is to examine whether accounting regulation is associated with financial reporting quality in Nigeria. Using accrual-based earnings management construct – abnormal accruals as a proxy for financial reporting quality, the study found some significant variation in abnormal accruals with the implementation of International financial reporting standards (IFRS) to regulate accounting practice. Similarly, the research found that the control variables - firm size, leverage, and return on asset have significant effects on financial reporting quality. This study is found to be consistent with previous studies indicating the effectiveness of IFRS adoption in improving financial reporting quality. The study also contributes to the discussion on IFRS adoption across reporting environments. Regulatory agencies in Nigeria might need to consider the combined effect of other corporate governance laws to ensure quality reporting. The study is limited by our sample (2009 - 2014), and by the proxies for both accounting regulation and financial reporting quality, the data of which was in most part handpicked. Future research might consider testing the combined effect of other corporate governance variables like audit committees and board characteristics.

Successful intravenous lipid emulsion therapy: Olanzapine intoxication

Olanzapine is an antipsychotic drug used in psychiatric diseases. At high doses it exhibits cardiovascular and neurological sideeffects in particular. Lipid emulsion therapy for the removal of medication from plasma in high-dose lipophilic drug use has recently become very widespread. In the light of current literature, this report discusses the successful treatment of a patient within 4 hrs of olanzapine overdose as an attempted suicide, who presented with agitation and clouded consciousness

Residue Levels of a Sub Lethal Dose of Organochlorine Endosulfan in Whole Fish of Tilapia Species Oreochromis niloticus.

Residual analysis of a sub lethal dose (0.02mg/l) of the insecticide endosulfan was studied in Nile tilapia species (Oreochromis niloticus). The species showed an ability to accumulate both alpha and beta endosulfan reaching maximum after 48 hours’ exposure. Beyond which there was a steady elimination of the pesticide until reaching undetectable levels at day 7 for alpha endosulfan and day 9 for beta endosulfan. At day 11 none of the two isomers were detected. Results revealed higher levels of beta isomer relative to alpha isomer. Bioaccumulation Factor (BAF) of Total Endosulfan reached its maximum of 13,860 folds after 48 hours of exposure and minimum of 400 after seven days. At day 11 Endosulfan level was not detected. Following that BAF increased at day 13 to 11,420 folds and then decreased to 8,970 folds at day 15.

أمراء المهدية والثبات على المبدأ (دراسة وثائقية لمواقف أمراء المهدية 1881م -1898م )

The research studies the criteria vital of three Mahdist heroes. They are: Emir Yaqoub, brother of Khalif Abdullah and (servant) the leader of Mahdist troops, Emir Scholar and warrior Al-Hassan Al-Haj Saad and Emir Ibrahim Al-Khaleel. Although those Emirs were different in ages, ethics and cultures, they stood firmly behind the Mahdist principles. Many unneutral historical sources presented the Mahdist leaders as tyrannies controlling ignorant phanatic hungry troops whose aims were stealing, plundering and killing.  This studies aims at making apparent images of the true believers in Mahdist, who were pious, loyal and trustworthy. The research was based on the manuscript produced by prominent Sudanese historian Mohammed Abbdul-Rahim who was an eye- witness of many events of Mahdia history.  The researcher companed the information of the manuscript with reliable historical sources, finally the research pointed out important results emphasizing that the Mahdist men were true believers of their maxim to the extent that they died for it. They were aware of the true meaning of martyrdom.

The Cost Effectiveness of Family Planning Services in Uganda

Although Uganda has devoted an increasing amount of resources to health interventions, funding for reproductive health services as well as general health sector remains inadequate. This study examines the cost effectiveness of four family planning interventions, namely, oral contraception, female sterilization, injectables, and condoms. Using the 2006 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey and the Uganda National Household Survey data we estimate cost effectiveness ratios in relation to the number of births averted for women aged 15-49 years. We find that only one out of five women using some form of contraceptive and a quarter of the women using contraceptives rely on traditional methods that are less effective in preventing child births. With regard to efficiency, we find that injectables are the most cost effective intervention. Nonetheless, we do not recommend solely targeting women in the reproductive age category with this particular method of contraception without due regard to differences in physiology and socioeconomic characteristics.

Revitalization of Greater Khartoum Urban Transportation System

Khartoum metropolis depends on a single-modal transport – vehicular road system. Mass transport modes are completely absent making Khartoum unable to meet citizens’ mobility demand. Thus passengers facing long time delays in transport stations. Slow traffic speeds and severe traffic jams result in long trip periods, high traffic accidents rates and high suspended particulate concentrations accumulating in the air. This situation is attributed to: • Use of small-sized vehicles running on limited paved road network. • Adoption of extensive grid iron planning patterns lacking multi-grade intersections. • Eroded public transport fleet and extremely overcrowded urban centres. Negligence of public transport systems integration into landuse plans and urban structure restructuring difficulty crippled public transport revitalisation for no space is left for mass transport infrastructure construction. Moreover, transport systems’ operation mismanagement and focus on economic development increased pressure on transport systems. This paper endeavours to point out the deficiencies in public transport services and proposes the areas of reformation. To revitalize urban transport, Khartoum main transport infrastructures must be efficiently operated by establishment of a talented transport authority supported by strong legislations and popular authorization and able to adopt sustainable mobility solutions to meet current and future traffic demands by: • Rehabilitating and expanding the existing infrastructures. • Deploying large-capacity multimodal transport systems including river transport, bus rapid transit systems, tramways and metropolitan railways to connect Khartoum polycentric and its sprawling outward growth. • Mitigating environmental pollution and enforcing stringent road safety measures. • Reviewing traffic laws to tighten traffic regulations and control traffic flows. Investment priority should be given to river transport. It is economically feasible, has large carrying capacity and safe and almost accident free. Furthermore, Nile Rivers dominate the metropolis, dictate urban configuration, direct urban growth, impose urban expansions patterns and influence spatial organization.

Techno-economic Feasibility of Renewable Energy Based Stand-alone Energy System for a Green House: Case Study

As the negative impacts of fossil fuel consumption for power generation become increasingly globally evident—particularly the effects of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on climate change—so too does the conversely positive potential of renewable energies to reduce the rate of damaging environmental impacts as energy demand grows. In addition to the clear environmental advantage, stand-alone renewable energy power generation options offer energy security and stability in regions where socio-political issues or geographic location might otherwise pose access limitations on fuel and/or electric grid power, particularly in remote communities. This paper discusses the techno-economic considerations for renewable energy power systems in residential community applications. A case study for a residential house in New Cairo in Egypt compares two different renewable energy systems that meet typical electrical demand for this region. Economic assessment—in terms of system net present cost (NPC) and levelized cost of electricity (LCOE)—provide measures for system performance comparison and optimization. The LCOE for system-I and system-II are found to be $0.359/kWh and $0.373/kWh, respectively.

Improving Chronic diseases management through integration, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia