NSUK Repository :: Browsing by Author "Nasiru, Idris Medugu"

Browsing by Author "Nasiru, Idris Medugu"

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Open Access
Appraising the Performance of Micro Finance Banking On Rural Development in Nasarawa State, Nigeria
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2014-09-01) Nasiru, Idris Medugu; Labaris, A.; Yusuf, K.S.; Barde, M.M.
The law establishing Micro Finance (Community Banks) in Nigeria was signed in 1990, the aim of the Federal Government was to use it as a tool to accelerate cash flow and development within the rural economy. This study focuses on assessment of the performance of community banks on the transformation of the rural economy from where they are located. 10 of the 13 functioning community banks in Nasarawa State, Nigeria were randomly selected with at least three each from the three Senatorial districts to enable us view their functional involvement in rural development issues.500 questionnaires were also administered to the customers of these banks, representing a 10% of the total customers within the rural environment. Results from the study indicated that community banks fared well in the area of special loan schemes, rural customer size, direct rural investments, and rural income generation programmes. Variation also existed in the area of composite scores using Z score analysis and appropriate recommendations are suggested accordingly.
Open Access
Assessing Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management Factors for Johor-Bahru by Analytical Hierarchy Process
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2012-04-01) Nasiru, Idris Medugu; Abba, A.H.; Noor, Z.Z.; Aliyu, A.
Management of solid waste involves collection, transportation, treatment and safe disposal to landfills. These activities create a lot of impacts to the environment and most of the time impose social and financial burden on authorities handling solid waste management as well as the community. Local authorities managing waste are confronted with problems, protests and resistance from the public because of difference of views and perceptions on impacts created by waste management plans. This paper assesses some environmental, social and economical impacts viewed by stakeholders in the city of Johor Bahru Malaysia. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP), a multicriteria decision making analysis tool is used to evaluate the views of the stakeholders with the aid of super decision software. Stream ecology, flora and fauna, habitat depletion, land use and air quality are ranked higher for environmental factors/impacts. Public awareness health and safety, population size and cooperation from the public dominate the social factors. Regulation, landfill capacity, operation and maintenance cost and capital cost dominate economic factors/impacts. Four alternative disposal plans (landfilling, recycling, incineration, composting) were proposed and ranked according to the priorities of the stakeholders. Incineration and recycling were preferred to landfilling and composting disposal options.
Open Access
Assessing Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management Factors for Johor-Bahru by Analytical Hierarchy Process
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2013-04-01) Nasiru, Idris Medugu; Abba, A.H.; Noor, Z.Z.; Aliyu, A.
Management of solid waste involves collection, transportation, treatment and safe disposal to landfills. These activities create a lot of impacts to the environment and most of the time impose social and financial burden on authorities handling solid waste management as well as the community. Local authorities managing waste are confronted with problems, protests and resistance from the public because of difference of views and perceptions on impacts created by waste management plans. This paper assesses some environmental, social and economical impacts viewed by stakeholders in the city of Johor Bahru Malaysia. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP), a multicriteria decision making analysis tool is used to evaluate the views of the stakeholders with the aid of super decision software. Stream ecology, flora and fauna, habitat depletion, land use and air quality are ranked higher for environmental factors/impacts. Public awareness health and safety, population size and cooperation from the public dominate the social factors. Regulation, landfill capacity, operation and maintenance cost and capital cost dominate economic factors/impacts. Four alternative disposal plans (landfilling, recycling, incineration, composting) were proposed and ranked according to the priorities of the stakeholders. Incineration and recycling were preferred to landfilling and composting disposal options
Open Access
Assessing the vulnerability of farmers, fishermen and herdsmen to climate change in Nigeria
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2021-09-01) Nasiru, Idris Medugu; Adati, Ayuba Kadafa
This research is aimed at assessing the vulnerability of farmers, fishermen and herdsmen to climate change in Nigeria. The study was motivated to examine the underlying causes and assess the degree of vulnerability as well as examines the conflicts between farmers and herdsmen as a result of climate change.This research employed the use of quantitative and qualitative,means of data gathering techniques as well as physical observations. Six states (Kebbi, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Osun, Ebonyi, and Akwa Ibom) were selected on the ground that they are key food production areas within the ecological zones of the country and are therefore essential to continual food security in the country. More so, they double as fishing communities in order to aid the comprehensive study of all the effects of climate change on farmers and fishermen alike. The study observed that the level of vulnerability of rural dwellers most specifically farmers, herdsmen and fishermen to climate change is very high due to their socioeconomic, ethnic and historical perspective of their trend. The study therefore recommends that urgent step needs to be put in place to help control natural hazards and manmade disasters. However, serious measures is also needed in order to minimize severe societal, economic and political crises; some of which may either escalate to violent conflicts or could be avoided by efforts of conflict resolution and prevention by the initiation of a process of de-escalation together by applying the best-fit adaptive and mitigation measures to climate change vulnerability in rural communities of Nigeria.
Open Access
ASSESSMENT OF POST-HARVEST LOSSES OF YAM (Dioscorea spp.)IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF KARU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NASARAWA STATE
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University, Keffi., 2017-02-22) Abubakar, Mahmud; Nasiru, Idris Medugu
The aim of this study is to introduce a method for the direct assessment of post-harvest losses in yam caused by rodents. Key informants comprising practicing yam farmers; the agriculture extension workers were selected for a Focus Group Discussion. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data, and the 95% Confidence Interval (CI) measured precision of respondent noted to have given a specific response. The daily yam requirements of the trapped rodents in the weight class were determined by measuring the actual amounts consumed by representative samples of captive rodents in cages. The study reveals that the major causes of post-harvest losses of yam is basically poor storage (17.7-54.7% CI) and to a lesser extent post-harvest handling of yam (10.2-24% CI). Analysis of variance shows that there is relationship between the yams sold, stored, processed and consumed, indicating increasing demand for the yam (Dioscorea spp.); the 10.5kg of yam lost to rodents during storage called for concern, this has resulted to both qualitative and quantitative losses. The study recommended investment in post-harvest storage processing technologies; education as well as proper method of controlling rodents that destroy yam tubers in storage.
Open Access
AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF COUPLES ABOUT HIV/AIDS IN KEFFI - NIGERIA
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State State University Keffi, 2013-03-03) Abubakar, Mahmud; Nasiru, Idris Medugu
The study determined the relationship between the knowledge and attitude of couples about HIV/AIDS in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. A matrix of ethnicity versus trade was then constructed. Couples in this study are married men and women of different ethnicity and trade. 300 couples (150 males and 150 females) resident in the sampled houses in Keffi Local Government Area were used for the study. An integrated descriptive statistics such as percentages, mean, frequency, ratios and proportions was employed. The major findings of the study were that couples in Keffi Local Government Area have a High (62.3%) knowledge about HIV/AIDS; that the attitude of couples about HIV/AIDS is negative as evidenced by the total mean score of 2.4 which is less than the criterion mean of 2.5; there was no statistically significant relationship (rho-.OOl) in the correlation between knowledge and attitude of couples about H1V/A1DS, and there was no statistically significant gender difference in the knowledge and attitudes of couples about HIV/AIDS. The study recommends that health and nurse educators, clinicians and other stake holders in the health sector should design better educational strategies to increase the knowledge of couples about HIV/AIDS so as to influence their attitude positively.
Open Access
Assessment of Traffic Congestion in Karu Urban Area, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State State University Keffi, 2018-01-01) Adamu, Musa Eya; Nasiru, Idris Medugu; Abubakar, Mahmud
Traffic congestion is a major setback in most of our towns and cities in Nigeria and across the world which limits spatial interaction between various neighbourhood within cities centre's and peri urban areas, metropolitan areas and sub cities sub- centres. This paper assessed traffic congestion in various point associated with landuse components. This study quantify traffic congestion at Abacha road junction, maraba central (Aso pada junction) and Ado junction using passenger car unit (p.c.u) value. The use of passenger car unit value employed hypothetical techniques influencing the factors such as mode of transport, peak hourly movement, pedestrian movement, road surface conditions based on the facts that this method is significantly related to urban landuse. Traffic congestion occurred when traffic is delayed due to the presence of excess number of vehicle on the same portion of road way at a particular time resulting to slower than the normal or 'free flow1 speed where is shall be queues of vehicles trying to use the road excess the designed capacity of the road. High traffic flow point corresponds to a higher degree of congestion in respective location and the result was validated in the field. The passenger car unit value quantified traffic congestion since it focus on the network congestion while, other work focused on broad links on flow of traffic in Karu urban are
Open Access
Baseline Concentration of Morbid Leachate In Well Water In Ankpa, Kogi State, Nigeria.
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2014-11-01) Nasiru, Idris Medugu; Abiola, K.A.; Ekanada, O.; Opaluwa, O.D.; Omale, L.; Mohammed, A.B.
Water is abundant natural resources which is critical for the sustenance of human life. It is a well-known fact that adequate supply of fresh and clean drinking water is a basic need for all human beings on the earth. This research aimed to determine the trace of metals and other physico-chemical properties in water samples collected from eight selected location in the study area (Enjema-Ofugo) in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State. The investigated metals (Na, K, Pb, Cd, Se, and Cr) were analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometric method while Alkalinity, pH, temperature, turbidity, conductivity, total solids, total dissolved solids, suspended solids and soluble anions (phosphate, chloride, nitrate, and bicarbonate) and other physico-chemical parameters were analysed using appropriate standard techniques. The results also showed that Cd, Se and Hg were not detected, while other physico-chemical parameters were within the permissible limits set by World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water except phosphate ion. However, source protection is recommended for the water bodies for the benefit of the community people in the study area.
Open Access
CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROWAVE –VACUUM DRYING, HOT AIR DRYING AND FREEZE DRYING OF JACKFRUIT (ARTOCARPUS HETEROPHYLUS
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2013-04-01) Nasiru, Idris Medugu; Abba, A.H.; Taib, M.R.; Mokhtar, M.M.; Ngo, C.L.
The characterization of microwave vacuum, hot air and freeze drying were compared using jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam) cultivar J31, as raw material. An optimized methodology of the use of microwave vacuum was observed to achieve higher drying rate and enhanced product quality. Microwave vacuum dried products had higher rehydration potential and quality attributes than hot air dried products also. Hot air dried products were brownish to a darker color, caramel odor, and the lowest in rehydration potential among samples dried. Although freeze drying yielded a product with the highest rehydration potential and nutrient retention, the microwave vacuum dried product was rated better than the freeze dried product by sensory panel assessors for colour, flavour, texture and overall preference in both the dehydrated and rehydrated state.
Open Access
CLIMATE CHANGE PERCEPTION AND ADAPTATION IN NIGERIA’S GUINEA SAVANNA: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM FARMERS IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2019-04-10) Nasiru, Idris Medugu; Tarfa, P.Y.; Onyeneke, R.U.; Nwajiuba, C.A.
Nigeria’s guinea savanna produces the bulk of the food consumed in the country and climate change is adversely affecting agriculture in the area. Farmers in the area respond differently to climate change based on their perception. Yet, studies that systematically link farmers’ perception on climate change to scientific data from meteorological stations are rare in Nigeria’s guinea savanna. Much rarer are studies that consider the simultaneity in the adaptation decisions of the farmers. This study therefore aimed at analysing farmers’ perception in comparison with meteorological data and the determinants of adaptation efforts of crop farmers in the areas with data from Nasarawa State of Nigeria. To achieve this aim, the study combined time-series data on climatic variables obtained from a weather station and cross-sectional data from 160 smallholder farmers selected from the area. The study applied descriptive statistics, trend analysis, and multivariate probit model in analysing data collected. The study showed reduction in volume of rainfall and significant increase in surface temperature with the farmers having firm perception of these changes. The farmers responded to the changes in temperature and rainfall by choosing adaptation strategies such as use of improved crop varieties, soil and water conservation, tree planting, changing dates of sowing and tillage options, irrigation, diversifying their means of livelihood, and farmland management. Interestingly, these strategies were complementary and farmers’ socioeconomic and institutional characteristics significantly determined adaptation in the area. Therefore, considering farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics and improving the institutions will help in future and planned adaptation efforts of governments.
Open Access
Effects of Discharge Effluents from Kaduna Refinery on River Rido, Kaduna, Nigeria
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2020-12-17) Nasiru, Idris Medugu; Buggu, Louis Tizhe
The study assessed the effects of effluents from Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company on the quality of water from River Rido. A total of seventeen samples were taken for the study; comprising of five control samples at interval of 1km from each other before the point of discharge of effluents from the refinery, and twelve samples after the point of discharge at interval of 1km each every sampling month. The transient method was used to determine sampling points along the river. The water samples were taken at two different periods; raining and dry seasons. The parameters determined were temperature, pH, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, turbidity, conductivity, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen,biochemical oxygen demand, sulphate, phosphate, nitrate and chloride. The metals determined in the water samples were As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Hg, Pb and Zn. The findings reveals that the concentrations obtained for physiochemical parameters were all higher than those obtained for the control samples in both dry and wet seasons. The results of the physicochemical parameters showed that all the concentration values obtained for these parameters in water were below the tolerable or permissible levels recommended by regulatory bodies except for turbidity that had values higher than the tolerable or permissible levels. The general irrigation water quality parameters values are within the standard guidelines recommended by FAO and therefore, the water from this source is fit for irrigation.
Open Access
AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE TECHNIQUE OF ASSESSING CHLORINE IN THE AIR
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2012-04-01) Nasiru, Idris Medugu; Abba, A.H.; Rafiu, O.Y.; Dodo, Y.A.
Chlorine is one of the pollutants released during solid waste treatment, chemical process or chemical reaction in some laboratory activities. Ailments of various effects ranging from pollutions caused to the environment, human health and services are some of those recent challenges reported to be caused by the gas. Exposure can cause ailments to skin, eyes and the respiratory tract. In this study, a modified quantification method of chlorine, (Cl2) in indoor air was demonstrated. The acid gas is detected using an "Improved Filtration Process" in which treated filters replaced impingers initially utilized by conventional pollutant gases quantifiers. Experiments were conducted and assessments were based on an indoor air contents. Results indicate the ability of the new method to assess some quantity of chlorine gas within the vicinity. Suitability of the methods were also reviewed and assessed. Based on the results obtained, the improved method was found to be effective and relevant.
Open Access
The Health Impact of Fuel Wood Utilization on Users in Yelwa Village, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2017-02-01) Nasiru, Idris Medugu; Kadafa, A.A.; Dennis, Stephen K.; Medan, J.D.
The health effects associated with the use of domestic’s energy in rural Nigeria, is associated with epileptic power supply, cost of other source of domestic energy, these has necessitated rural dwellers to highly dependent on traditional means of energy as there source of domestic energy supply, these has led to associated indoor pollution, unsafe level of toxic emission, air pollution, deforestation and consequently leads to health hazard in the area. These coupled with closeness to the forest, high levels of poverty, weak management and lack of coordination between households, local and traditional leaders in the provision of alternative source of domestic’s energy other than fuel wood in the study area. These have constituted one of the major causes of health hazard, deforestation and massive destruction of indigenous trees in Nigeria. The study attempts to highlight how the households in Yelwa village utilized domestic energy and investigate the health impact of fuel wood utilization in Yelwa village. Poverty and income has been identified as the major factors influencing rural households choice of domestic energy consumption in Africa especially Nigeria. In rural areas, over dependence on fuel wood has universally been recognized as one of the major threat to forestry ecosystems. The resultant effects of the consumption of this resource are various environmental problems such as climate change, erosion, flooding, and deforestation, among others. Other fuel wood related impacts on human include air pollution, eye problem, respiratory problem, and heart disease among others.Based on these identified problems caused by the over dependence on fuel wood, this study sought to assess the health impact of fuel wood utilization on users, and the possible means of controlling the identified impact on households in Yelwa village, Toto LGA, Nasarawa State. Questionnaires were administered to households. The study found Fuel wood utilization in the study area is increasing on daily basis as a result of the lack of access to clean and affordable energy. Consequently, Poverty, household’s size, income level of the dwellers, among others are the drivers of fuel wood utilization in the study area, leading to several health problems. Recommendation for the potentials of exploitation of renewable energy resources of energy in place of fuel wood; with the aim of removing the present pressure of rural Nigerian on forest resources for fuel wood as the mainstay of domestic cooking energy.
Open Access
Household Solid Waste Management Methods in Lafia, Nasarawa State Nigeria
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2014-04-01) Nasiru, Idris Medugu; Mohammed, A.B.; Alhassan, M.M.; Ogah, A.T.
The study discusses the socio-economic characteristics of household heads, types of waste generated and methods of disposal by household heads in Lafia. The study area was divided into three high, medium and low densities in terms of development. This was largely based on the data gathered through administration of questionnaire using systematic sampling methods. 270 copies of questionnaire were administered to household heads in the three areas selected, where high density area has 98; medium density area has 90 while low density area has 82 respectively. It was deduced that all the major types of municipal solid waste are generated in all the areas, and majority of household heads in the three areas use either plastic or metal buckets to collect and disposed their waste and also that the socio-economic characteristics varied in all the three areas at 5% probability level as 0.842<2.78<4.60. Furthermore, at 5% level of significance where 9.21>5.99, this shows that solid waste is more of a problem in the high density area than in the medium and low density areas.
Open Access
IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON YAM PRODUCTION IN ABUJA, NIGERIA
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2014-04-01) Nasiru, Idris Medugu; Zakari, D.M.; Sufyan, I.; Sandra, I.; Mohammed, A.B.
The study was on yam production in federal Capital Territory (FCT). It aimed at establishing the relationship that exists between rainfall, temperature and yam yield. Two sets of data were collected from agricultural development project of federal capital territory on climatic elements (rainfall and temperature) and yam yield for ten (10) years. The Pearson product-moment correlation techniques were used to determine the relationship between rainfall and yam yield and between temperature and yam yield which were 0.10 and 0.07 respectively. The result showed a positive relationship for both. Using the simple step-wise regression analysis for rainfall and yam yield, applying the same techniques on temperature and yam yield the following questions were derived: rainfall and yam yield __ y = 12.46466- 0.002x. Temperature and yam yield __ y = 6.936-0.24x. With the use of multiple regressions we obtained 0.14 between rainfall, temperature and yam yield is yield. We also discovered that 14% of the proportion variation of yam yield is explained by rain and temperature. The positive relationship obtained between yam and temperature, between yam rainfalls is in agreement with work done previously by other authors. While that of temperature, rainfall and yam is also positive relationship which also agrees with literatures. We recommend that: a more reliable data should be collected and tried again especially on rainfall. Yam yield should be regressed on other environmental factors. Data on temperature, rainfall, compared to eradicate errors. A longer period of data could be collected for better analysis. However, with respect to our present study we concluded that rainfall and temperature has an influence on yam production.
Open Access
IMPACTS OF DEFORESTATION ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF AKWANGA NASARAWA STATE
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2014-04-01) Nasiru, Idris Medugu; Aliyu, A.; Modibbo, M.A.; Ayo, O.
Human activities, climate change coupled with rural poverty have led to increased deforestation in the rural areas of Nigeria. Given the low productivity of the soil in the tropics to which Nigeria belongs, the poor state of the farmers and subsistence nature of agriculture in Nigeria, green environment may be difficult to sustain. There is therefore the need to better understand the constraint and challenges of deforestation especially in the study areas of Nasarawa state. This paper seeks to assess the extent of the impacts of deforestation on socioeconomic development of the study area and how the stakeholders will adopt environmentally friendly management options for forest resources. This study adopted the quantitative methodology including interviews with stakeholders using survey questionnaire. Five villages were randomly selected for inclusion in this study. The justification for the selection of the villages was based on the fact that they featured different forest management problems. Findings revealed that the knowledge base of the different stakeholders about technological dimensions of forest resources management is very low due to lack of awareness and low educational attainment. There is therefore the need to broaden stakeholders’ initiatives to cope with contemporary challenges posed by deforestation in these villages.
Open Access
IS COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION THE SURESTWAY OF INCREASING HOUSEHOLD ACCESS TO WATER SUPPLY IN NIGERIA RURAL COMMUNITIES?
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2012-04-01) Nasiru, Idris Medugu; Ishaku, H.T.; Abayomi, A.P.
Public water supply in Nigeria began some 60 years ago. However, most rural communities do not have access to safe water supply. Lack of access to safe water supply is precursor to water related diseases. Given the fact that publicly operated water supply has not met the increasing demand, there is need for community members to be involved in their water supplies. Community participation has been identified as the key to the success of any form of development. It conveys the feelings of ownership and builds a strong base for government intervention in many societies. Community participation will ensure that that the intervention will have more credibility in all segments of the community because it was planned by a group representing them. About 80% of rural households in northeastern Nigeria do not have access to improved water supply. They rely solely on self water supply from rivers, ephemeral streams, unprotected water ponds and hand dug wells which are susceptible to waterborne diseases and drought. These rural populations are engaged in farming activities with low level of income living in small scattered settlements, making provision of piped water very difficult. Government interventions through the provision of hand-operated boreholes and wells yield little or no water during the dry seasons and are prone to frequent breakdowns. A study of rural households in six villages in northeastern Nigeria was carried out. With 50 respondents from each community, a total of 300 households were randomly selected. Findings revealed that rainfall values ranged from 860 to1,065mm; average water consumption per capita in the region was 30 l/p/d; and average household sizes 5 persons. Water storage facilities and seasonality of rainfall are some of the greatest obstacles for effective community participation.
Open Access
Mixed Plastic aModern Convenience and an Environmental Nuisance
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2017-02-01) Nasiru, Idris Medugu; Ayuba, H.K.; Kadafa, A.A.
Plastic waste is found in all types and forms (mixed plastic) mostly from packaging material for commercial product, thus resulting in its abundance in municipal solid waste. In the developed and developing countries high quantities of mixed plastic waste are generated but in the developed countries extensive recycling and reuse strategies have been implemented toward minimizing its quantity in waste flow and that which requires final disposal. In the developing countries where the concept of recycling is just coming up or waste collection from generation sources is a major problem, thus recycling is found only informally and carried out by scavengers. In Nigeria the greatest environmental issue is solid waste management and the most difficult fraction to handle is mixed plastic. Due to its high generation since it is the most common packing material used by manufacturer within the country. Polypropylene (PP/5) found in confectionery packets and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE/1) found in soft drinks bottles are the most commonly generated plastic in Nigeria, thus can be found in abundance littering the streets.Its high quantity generated and its non-degradable characteristic make it a serious environmental challenge in Nigeria. This paper looks at mixed plastic waste in Nigeria and its environmental hazard. With the aim of bring into view the issue of plastic waste management and its current nuisance and hazard on the streets of Nigeria.
Open Access
MIXED PLASTIC WASTE AS AN INTRACTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM IN ABUJA, NIGERIA
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2017-03-01) Nasiru, Idris Medugu; Ayuba, H.K.; Kadafa, A.A.
The greatest environmental issue in the urban areas of Nigeria is solid waste management and the most intractable are the mixed plastic wastes. Mixed plastics, especially Polypropylene (PP/5) found in confectionery packets and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE/1) found in soft drinks bottles are commonly used as packaging materials by the manufacturing sector within the country. Due to the high rate of generation, these mixed plastics are found in abundance littering major streets of Nigeria. The greatest challenge is that these mixed plastics are non-biodegradable and therefore cannot be used as compost by the local communities and Government does not also seem to possess the capacity to recycle them. This paper examines mixed plastic waste in Abuja, Nigeria and its environmental hazards with the aim of sensitizing solid waste managers and the general public to finding sustainable solutions to the problem. Survey method was used to administer 400 questionnaire to residents of Abuja, Nigeria. The results indicated only 43% of residents have waste collection services available to them, with infrequent collections. Which corresponds with the high percentage of resident who use dumping; 65.7% as a method of disposing their waste. With a lot of plastic waste being generated thus results in a lot of plastic waste found littering the environment.
Open Access
PROBLEMS OF GUINEA CORN MARKETING IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA
(Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2014-04-01) Nasiru, Idris Medugu; Labaris, A.; Yusuf, K.S.; Barde, M.M.
The study examines the problems of sorghum marketing in Nasarawa State. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data during the 2013 farming season from two hundred and forty food marketers across six local government areas of the state. The descriptive statistics were used to analyze and describe the data collected while the Kohls(1985) formula was used to determine the estimates of market margins and marketing efficiency was calculated using Olukosi and Isitor (1990) formulae. The results indicate that the average farm gate price of guinea corn was N10 000 per 100 kg bag. The average marketing cost was N1, 100 per bag and average net marketing margin was N1, 233.3 per bag. The average marketing efficiency was 106.5 .The major problems confronting guinea corn marketing; transportation problem, inadequate market infrastructure, inadequate funding, and shortage of processing facilities, seasonality and perishability of food produce and ethnic crisis. To improve guinea corn marketing in the study area it is recommended that adequate transportation facilities should be provided by government, private individuals and corporate groups; research into post-harvest storage and processing techniques should be intensified; and funds should be made available to food marketers so that they can take advantage of bulk purchasing, market expansion and post-harvest processing.