SOCIAL SCIENCES
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- ItemIMPACT OF SELECTED MACROECONOMIC VARIABLES ON AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT IN NIGERIA (1981 – 2017).(2021-04)In the past 3 decades (1981-2017), the Nigerian government has set out various policies targeted at stimulating the macroeconomic variables and consequently affecting the agricultural outputs positively in the economy, but have inadequately achieved these goals. This is evidenced in the annual agricultural outputs which are always insufficient to cater to the rising population of the country. Hence, this study examined the impact of selected macroeconomic variables onNigeria’s agricultural outputs (aggregate and dis-aggregated) over the time under review(1981-2017). The Cobb-Douglas Production theory formed the theoretical framework for the study. After reviewing relevant works of literature, the suitable analytical techniques (Johansen cointegration(long-run relationship), Fully Modified OLS(FMOLS(long-run impacts) and Error Correction Model (ECM)(short-run impact)) were chosen and employed. The five (One aggregate and four disaggregated) estimated Johansen results all indicated a long-run equilibrium relationship. Furthermore, the coefficients of the FMOLS results for aggregate agricultural output, in the long run, reveals that credit and Non-oil importsaresuitable macroeconomic variables that can be used to positively and negatively impact the aggregate agricultural outputs in Nigeria respectively. In the short run, non-oil exports impact much positively with a 24.6% increase for any 10% increase. While Non-Oil Imports impact much negatively to aggregate agricultural output with -20.6% for any 10% increase. For the sub-sectors, the FMOLS results for crop production suggested credit to be a more suitable variable to use to rapidly increase the sub-sector's outputs with a 2.07% increase to the output for a 10% increase; while Non-Oil imports can impose the most negative impact with -0.41% reduction the sub-sector’s output for any 10% increase. And in the short run, Non-oil exports impact much positively with 0.804% for any 10% increase; while non-oil imports impact much negatively to the sub-sector with -0. 8.15% for any 10% increase. Again for a quick and much positive response in fish production, in the long run, the result suggests credit be the most suitable variable with a 2.323% increase in fish output for any 10% increase; while Non-Oil exports can impose the most negative impact with -1.996% reduction of fish output for any 10% increase. And in the short run, Non-oil imports impact much positively with a 0.990% increase in fish output for any 10% increase. While non-oil export impacts much negatively with -1.013%. reduction for any 10% increase. Considering the result obtained from the FMOLS estimation for the forestry sub-sector, to achieve the quickest and positive response in forestry production, in the long run, the result suggests Non-Oil export as the most suitable variable with a 0.616% increase to the forestry output for any 10% increase; while credit can impose the most negative impact with - 0.716% reduction of forestry output for any 10% increase. In the short run, Non-oil exports impact much positively with a 0.322% increase in forest output for any 10% increase; while Non-Oil imports impact much negatively with a -0.255% reduction for any 10% increase. Finally, to achieve a fast and much positive response in livestock production, in the long run, the FMOLS result suggests labour as the most suitable variable with a 0.514% increase to the livestock output for any 10% increase; while public debt servicing can impose a quick and more negative impact on livestock output with -0.140% reduction in the output for any 10% increase. In the short run, labour impacts more positively with a 0.307% increase in the output for any 10% increase. Thus, the results obtained suggest that macroeconomic variables still affect the sector’s outputs; and practical policy recommendations by policymakers to help and rapidly boost the sector output’s growth is by helping farmers via the good provision of credit and helping them to market their produce at the international markets which can help them earn foreign currencies and thus, stimulate them to produce more and consequently lead to expansion of the whole sector vis-à-vis the Nigerian economy.
- ItemASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ON COMMUNITY BASED INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN SELECTED COMMUNITIES OF BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA 2015-2016(2021-04)Displacement of Persons resulting from human conflicts is becoming an issue of global concern. Many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are settled in camps, but majority of these persons in North Eastern Nigeria are based in various host communities. These displaced persons need urgent, stringent and continuous support which is expected from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Therefore, this study is aimed at examining the effectiveness of NEMA in assisting the community based IDPs, between January 2015 to December 2016, in selected communities of Bauchi State. The main objective of the study was to explore the mandate of NEMA in the management of the IDPs with a view to assessing the extent of the application of the mandate in supporting the displaced persons. Reviewed literature suggested that NEMA draws its mandate from the NEMA Act, which was developed from International Disaster Response Techniques, and placed NEMA in the context of disaster response strategies,unveiled some challenges in accomplishing its mandates. Structural Functionalism, a theory which emphasizes on order, stability and consensus in the society was adopted as the theoretical Framework for the study. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were adopted for the study. For the quantitative technique, a total of 244 questionnaires were distributed to the IDPs in three communities of Bununu, Tulai and Liman Katagum, of which 229 were retrieved and analyzed. For the qualitative technique, a total of thirteen persons were interviewed in depth. Of these, four NEMA personnel, one person each from among the IDP leaders, leaders of the host communities and a community member was selected. The study found that although NEMA has been mandated to provide immediate support to the victims of other disasters, there was no explicit mandate on the support to be given to the conflict induced, community based IDPs. Instead,the type of support given to the camp based IDP‟s is offered to the community based, even though their needs and predicaments are not always similar. The study also found that although NEMA has a viable strategy for the management of persons afflicted with disasters, it has been hindered from providing effective management of the IDPs by numerous challenges. It is suggested that a specific policy should be formulated to mandate NEMA to provide services for the community based, conflict or insurgency induced IDPs whose quandary is peculiar in comparison to others. The study also suggest that States and Local Government Counci ls should be mandated to enact Laws that will enable them to fully fund SEMA and LEMA personnel and programmes for effective management of human conflict induced, community based IDPs.
- ItemA STUDY OF SOCIAL STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA(2021-05)Mental healthcare is not given the desired attention like other illnesses in Nigeria. The existing psychiatric hospitals are only concentrated in the urban areas and laws to protect the rights of people with mental illness against stigma and discrimination are ineffective. There is lack of coordinating mechanism to take care of public education on mental illness. Consequently, people with mental illness and their family members are therefore left to suffer alone. Furthermore, they also have to contend with the symptoms of the disease on one hand and the stereotype and prejudice due to misconception about mental illness on the other. As a result, they internalize public stigma and become devalued members of the society. This study examined public attitude towards mental illness. The study examined the prevalence of internalized stigma against people with mental illness. The study examined the level of discrimination of people living with mental illness by mental healthcare professionals. The study also examined the stigma experienced by family members of people with mental illness and the strategies they use to cope with stigma. The labeling theory of mental illness was adopted as a theoretical frame work for the study. Data were collected in six selected local government areas in the State, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Center Makurdi and six traditional psychiatric hospitals. A survey questionnaire was administered to 400 members of the public, 468 people living with mental illness, 468 caregivers and 69 mental health care professionals. In-depth Interviews wer e held with people living with mental illness, their family members and mental health care professionals. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 23. The findings revealed that members of the public have negative attitude towards mental illness. This was demonstrated through the unwillingness of members of the public (54.3%) to associate with the mentally ill, to entrust sensitive tasks like babysitting to them (64.6%) and to marry persons who had once suffered from mental illness (58.3%). The study also revealed that 67.9% of the people suffering from mental illness had elevated internalized stigma. People living with mental illness who received traditional health care had elevated stigma scores more than those who attended orthodox (t = 4.404, df = 466, sig. 2 tailed (p) = 000). Nurses and social workers with mean rating of 2.94 and standard deviation of 0.87, 2.94 and standard deviation of 0.97 respectively exhibited more negative attitude. It was also revealed through in-depth interviews with people having mental illness that they took overdose of the drugs from the hospitals to forget about the public stigma they experienced. It was recommended that government and non-governmental organizations should embark on public awareness to educate members of the public about mental illness. It was also recommended that government and non-governmental organizations should undertake psycho educational programs and counseling targeted at people with mental illness receiving traditional psychiatric care. Anti-stigma courses should form an integral part of the training curricular of medical schools. Stigma of mental illness remains a major challenge to the individual with mental illness, their family members and the society at large because it affects productivity. Consequently, concerted effort should be made to end stigmatization and discrimination of mental illness. Key words: Stigma, Mental Illness, Internalized Stigma, Public, Family Members,Benue State
- ItemAN ASSESSMENT OF FARMERS’-HERDERS’ VIOLENT CONFLICT IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA (2009- 2018)(2021-04)In Nigeria, particularly Benue State, farmer-herder conflicts have become widespread and increasingly assume a violent dimension.The groups involved in the violent conflicts over resources are crop farmers and herders. Both the farmers and herders are completely dependent on land for the cultivation of crops and rearing of animals respectively. The two occupations are expected to be complementary to each other but they are always in constant violent conflicts with each other in the recent times. The good relationship they used to have, had transformed into irreconcilable antagonism which always result in violent conflicts. This study was therefore, designed to assess the violent conflict in Benue State, Nigeria from 2009 to 2018. In order to achieve this, the study outlined the following objectives: to understand the nature and manifestations of the violent conflict; examine factors responsible for the conflict; assess Socio-economic effects of the conflict on the farmers and herders; explore strategies adopted by farmers and herders in coping with the effects of the conflict and, to assess the role played by governments and other relevant stakeholders to forestall the reoccurrence of the conflict in the study area.To provide a theoretical base for the study, Eco-Violence and Frustration Aggression theories as propounded by Thomas Homer in 1998 and the original formulation of the frustration–aggression hypothesis by Dollard, Doob, Miller, Mowrer, and Sears in 1939 .respectively were reviewed. However Eco-Violence theory was adopted for the study. It explaines the intricate linkages that have developed between resource scarcity as a result of climate change and violent conflict which to some extent explains the basis for harmers‘-herders‘ violent conflict in Benue State. The study also employs multi - stage cluster sampling techniques where combinations of simple, systematic, snowball and purposive sampling techniques were used to select respondents and study participants. Data were collected using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Questionnaire was deployed in collecting quantitative data from 320 respondents that were made up of farmers and herders in the study area. While qualitative data were collected from 26 key informants using in-depth interview guide. Quantitative data collected through questionnaire were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and was presented in form of tables, frequencies and percentages. While the qualitative data was presented in sub- themes according to the objectives of the study. In terms of the nature of the conflict in the study area, the study reveals that farmers and herders were attacking each other with sophisticated weapons. The study further shows that, some traditional rulers were having some secret financial dealings with the herders without the knowledge of their subjects. Several factors were also found to be responsible for farmers‘- herders‘ violent conflicts in Benue State; the factors include unfavourable environmental changes, population explosion, religious intolerance, ethnic suspicion and political factors among others. In terms of Socio- Economic effect of the conflict, the study indicates that peaceful inter-groups relations have been compromised in the study area coupled with destruction of valuable property and source of livelihoods among others. The challenge of the conflict on the farmers and herdsmen in the study location, the study found that residents have adopted different strategies in order to cope with the urgly development. Some of the strategies include, migration from trouble spots to safer communities, abandonment of farming and herding as means of livelihood, receiving help from politicians among others.The study also found that conflict between farmers and herders in Benue State has been politicized and measures taken by governments and stakeholders had not been successful. Based on the findings it was therefore recommended that the traditional authorities should be open to their subjects when it comes to issues bordering on land resources in their communities to avoid suspicion. Government should establish permanent security task force comprising of all the security agencies and marine police outpost along the riverine communities where invaders always attacked. It further recommended that both the farmers and herders should be part of the security network to help forestall conflicts and also report the presence of strange faces (foreigners) in their communities to security agents. The study also recommended the governments to address the environmental challenges that are forcing herders southward by ranching of livestock or building of dams, recharging of Lake Chad Basin , watering of grasses and trees to create more grasses for grazing of cattle in order to make herders comfortable in the far Northern Nigeria to curtail their movement southward.The study also recommended that the Federal, State and stakeholders should depoliticized the conflict. The study therefore concludes that, the conflict has become a serious national security threat that needs urgent attention of government and all stakeholders to curtail the incidence of the conflict in the area.
- ItemAN ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REAL EXCHANGE RATE AND DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION IN NIGERIA (1981-2016)(2021-03)This dissertation analyses the real exchange rate-domestic consumption relationship in Nigeria using the Smooth Transition Autoregressive (STAR) model from 1981 to 2016. Findings shows that domestic consumption determines the regime shift in real exchange rate suggesting a nonlinear linkage of real exchange rate and domestic consumption with clearly distinct regimes. Exchange rate is shown to have significant linear effect from previous exchange rate. On the other hand, current foreign consumption is positive but has no significant impact on the exchange rate in the linear part of the model. In the nonlinear part of the model, we found evidence of a significant negative relationship between real exchange rate and domestic consumption, thus supporting the proposition by standard International Real Business Cycle (IRBC) Model. In the face of the wide disparity in literature trying to establish the prediction of IRBC model, we found evidence of bi-directional nonlinear granger causality between real exchange rate and domestic consumption. The study concludes that the relationship between real exchange rate and domestic consumption is indeed nonlinear and that fiscal and monetary authorities should develop policies that will help strengthen domestic production to further reduce import component in domestic consumption.