PGD Project

Flooding remains one of the most pressing environmental challenges in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, where rapid urbanization, land degradation, and climate variability interact to intensify hydrological extremes. This study evaluates the combined impact of land use/land cover (LULC) changes and climate variability on flooding in the Lower Niger Region, focusing on Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers States. An integrated methodological framework was developed using remote sensing (RS) and machine learning (ML) techniques implemented on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. Rainfall and temperature datasets were obtained from multiple satellite products, CHIRPS, PERSIANN-CDR, PERSIANN-CCS, ERA5, and CPC, and validated against observations from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET). LULC classification was conducted using Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithms applied to Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 imagery, generating five major land cover classes: water bodies, forest, barren land, vegetation, and built-up areas. Flood dynamics were assessed using multiple spectral indices, including AWEI, FWI, NDWI, MNDWI, WRI, and NDVI, evaluated across different temporal scales to capture hydrological variations. The results reveal significant interannual and seasonal rainfall variability, with the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) effectively identifying alternating wet and dry cycles, although long-term annual rainfall trends were largely non-significant. There is, however, evidence of increasing frequency of extreme rainfall events, particularly in Delta and Rivers States. Temperature analysis (1971–2023) indicates a statistically significant warming trend, with minimum temperatures rising faster than maximum temperatures—most notably during the dry season (DJF). LULC assessment confirmed the superior performance of the RF classifier over SVM and showed a consistent pattern of urban expansion at the expense of vegetation and wetlands. Flood analysis revealed a persistent hotspot occurring along river corridors, low-lying floodplains, and southeastern basins. Overall, the findings demonstrate that while climate variability influences hydrological extremes, LULC transformations, particularly urban encroachment into natural flood buffers, have been a more decisive factor driving flood vulnerability in the Lower Niger Region.

Utilising the Warri crisis of 1997–2003 and its aftermath as the main empirical case study, this dissertation critically investigates the degree to which gender was mainstreamed in the PAP. The degree of gender mainstreaming in the PAP, the roles women played in the Warri crisis and their acknowledgement in official peace processes, and the structural obstacles that hindered gender mainstreaming, as well as the lessons for future peace agreements in the Niger Delta, were the three research questions. Three theoretical frameworks are integrated in the dissertation: inter-sectionality, critical peace-building theory, and feminist political ecology. This qualitative single embedded case study design uses feminist content analysis of PAP policy documents, media and archival sources, secondary empirical literature, and semi-structured interviews with women impacted by conflict, civil society actors, and institutional informants in Delta State. The results show that the PAP failed to mainstream gender at every level of its architecture: its monitoring framework generated no gender-disaggregated data; its weapon-surrender eligibility criterion structurally excluded the majority of women involved in conflict; and its reintegration streams reproduced gender divisions of labour. By expanding the gender paradox of the local turn to a West African resource-conflict environment and showcasing the analytical productivity of fusing feminist political ecology with critical peace studies in post- conflict DDR research, the thesis advances feminist peace-building theory

This study aimed to determine metal analysis on the soil, weight changes, antioxidant defense systems, level of malondialdehyde, lipid content, the phospholipids profile, the activity for two weeks of energy and some enzymes in energy metabolism, and the lipid profile in tadpoles exposed to effluents from automobile workshops. Tadpoles were obtained from runoff water containing effluents used in automobile workshops from two different sites (Evbarake and Uwelu) in Benin City, Nigeria were used in this study. A total of 60 tadpoles were divided into three Groups with each group containing 20 tadpoles. Group 1 served as the control. Group 2 Evbarake site. Group 3 Uwelu site. Soil samples were collected from Capitol University of Benin Control group and automobile workshops (Exposed groups) respectively. The animals were maintained for the study period of two weeks with their requisite sample soil/water from the respective sites. Metal analysis on the soil, weight changes, antioxidant defense systems, level of malondialdehyde, lipid content, the phospholipids profile, the activity for two weeks of energy and some enzymes in energy metabolism, and the lipid profile were analyzed using standard methods. The data from Table 4.1 show that the heavy metal analysis were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the control. The malondyaldehyde levels were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in tadpoles from both sites compared to the control group. The Evbarake site showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in catalase activity compared to the control, while the Uwelu site showed a slight decrease. The glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly increased in tadpoles from both test sites when compared to the control. Aldehyde oxidase activity was significantly higher in tadpoles from both contaminated sites compared to the control. The results demonstrated that the exposure led to a significant (p < 0.05) increase in total lipids, triacylglycerol, low density lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins in a site-dependent manner. The exposure led to a significant increase in glucose levels. It was also observed that the exposure of tadpoles within the test sites decreased the weight of tadpoles and final weight of head region in tadpoles from the Uwelu site showed a significant decrease when compared to those from the control site (p < 0.05). Overall, this study provides important insights into the potential health risks associated with effluents exposure including alteration in glucose metabolism, antioxidant enzymes activity, and lipid peroxidation in the presence of effluents which may cause oxidative stress in the test sites. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the underlying mechanisms and potential longterm effect of this exposure.

THIS study investigates the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and employee retention in health care firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group from 2014 to 2023. This study specifically examines how four key governance proxies board size, board independence, board gender diversity, and board of directors' share ownership affects employees’ retention. The objectives of the study were to; examine the relationship between board size and employee retention in the selected health care institutions in Nigeria; ascertain what extent board independence impact employee retention in the selected health care institutions in Nigeria; examine how board diversity influences employee retention in the selected health care institution in Nigeria and; examine the extent ownership structure affect employee retention in the selected health care institutions in Nigeria. This study adopts ex-post facto and descriptive research design, utilizing secondary data collected from annual financial reports of the sampled health care firms. The sample consists of five listed health care firms, selected based on their consistent submission of annual reports during the study period. This study employs random-effects robust regression analysis technique to test the hypothesized relationships between the governance variables and employee retention. The regression results reveal that board size has a significant positive effect on employee retention, indicating that larger boards are associated with better employee retention outcomes. Conversely, board gender diversity shows a significant negative effect, suggesting that increasing the representation of female directors, without meaningful integration into decision- making processes, might negatively impact employee retention. On the other hand, both board independence and board ownership demonstrate statistically insignificant relationships with employee retention, implying that these governance variables do not play a significant role in influencing employee retention within the health care sector. Thus, this study carefully recommends that stakeholders in the Nigerian health care industry should strategically increase board size to ensure a more diverse range of expertise and perspectives, as this has a positive impact on employee retention. It also suggests that efforts to enhance board gender diversity should go beyond mere representation by promoting the meaningful integration of female directors into decision-making roles. Further, given the statistically insignificant effect of board independence and board ownership on employee retention, the study advises stakeholders to focus on other governance factors that might more effectively influence retention, rather than emphasizing changes in these areas.

State sponsored torture remains a serious human rights concern despite its clear prohibition under international and regional law. In Nigeria and South Africa, reports of torture by state agents, especially police and security personnel, continue to raise questions about respect for human dignity, the rule of law and accountability within state institutions. This study examines state sponsored torture through a comparative analysis of Nigeria and South Africa in order to understand why the practice persists and how both countries have responded to it. The study aims to examine the nature and justification of state sponsored torture and to assess the effectiveness of the legal and institutional frameworks designed to prevent it in Nigeria and South Africa. A doctrinal and comparative research approach is adopted, drawing on legislation, court decisions, international conventions, official reports and relevant academic writings. The study finds that although both countries have formally committed themselves to the prohibition of torture and have put legal safeguards in place, enforcement remains weak in practice. South Africa has recorded more progress, largely due to its strong constitutional culture and oversight mechanisms, while Nigeria continues to struggle with poor implementation of laws, limited accountability for offenders and deep rooted institutional impunity. In both jurisdictions, torture is still commonly justified on the grounds of security, crime control and public order. The study concludes that ending state sponsored torture requires more than legal prohibition. It demands genuine political will, effective oversight of security agencies and a culture of respect for human rights. The study recommends stronger institutional accountability, improved enforcement of existing laws and continuous human rights training as practical steps toward addressing torture in both Nigeria and South Africa

SERVICOM (Service Compact with All Nigerians) was established to enhance accountability, transparency, and quality of service delivery in Nigeria’s public sector. Despite its institutionalization in healthcare facilities, there are concerns about its visibility, awareness, and effectiveness in practice. This study evaluated the implementation and impact of SERVICOM on service delivery at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Edo State, Nigeria. This study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design using a mixed-methods approach. Both quantitative and qualitative data were integrated to provide a comprehensive analysis. The target population comprised staff and patients of UBTH. A total sample of 409 respondents was drawn using proportionate sampling, which included 296 staff, 98 patients, 9 staff for in-depth interviews, and 6 patients for in-depth interviews. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and interview guides. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27.0, while qualitative data were coded and thematically analyzed using NVivo version 11 software. Findings revealed that healthcare providers demonstrated high awareness (mean = 3.6) and positive perceptions of SERVICOM implementation (grand mean = 3.6), particularly in accountability, professionalism, and responsiveness. In contrast, patients reported poor awareness (mean = 2.4) and low ratings of SERVICOM implementation (grand mean = 2.3), with dissatisfaction regarding complaint mechanisms, feedback, and waiting times. From the qualitative analysis, five themes emerged from staff interviews (understanding and awareness, implementation in departments, challenges, effectiveness, and recommendations), while six themes were generated from patient interviews (awareness, accessibility, complaints process, service quality, access challenges, and recommendations). The study concludes that SERVICOM has made notable progress in promoting accountability among staff at UBTH but has not translated into improved patient awareness or satisfaction. The study recommends increased patient-focused awareness campaigns, regular training of staff, improved feedback and complaint systems, adequate funding, and strengthened monitoring and evaluation frameworks to ensure SERVICOM achieves its intended impact on healthcare service delivery

This dissertation explores the relationship between social capital and police performance in Ondo State: A case study of Akure South Local Government Area, Nigeria. The research objectives include assessing the current state of social capital, examining the effectiveness of police performance, investigating the relationship between social capital and police performance, and exploring the impact of socio-economic and cultural factors on the police-social capital dynamic. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods. The findings reveal that social capital is relatively low in Akure South LGA, while police performance is affected by various challenges. The study also identifies a positive correlation between social capital and police performance, indicating that communities with higher social capital tend to have better police performance. Furthermore, the research highlights the significance of socio-economic and cultural factors in shaping the police-social capital dynamic. The study recommends strategies for building social capital and improving police performance, including community policing, stakeholder engagement, and cultural sensitivity training for police officers. The study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on social capital and police performance, providing insights for policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and community leaders seeking to enhance public safety and community well-being

Chemical industries increasingly rely on catalytic processes, and more than 90% of large scale chemical transformations depend on catalysts. Some of the commonly used homogeneous catalysts in Fridel Crafts alkylation reaction are; BF3, H2SO4, HF, AlCl3. Though, readily available at low cost, they have several limitations and these include toxicity, difficulty in separation and recovery and disposal problems. These limitations have intensified the demand for sustainable, efficient, and environmentally benign heterogeneous catalysts. This study focuses on the development of metal-doped coconut-shell biochars as robust heterogeneous catalysts for the Friedel Crafts benzylation of toluene. Biochars derived from the coconut shell produced at different pyrolysis temperatures (350, 400, 450, 500, 600 and 700 °C) were characterized in terms of their physicochemical and textural properties, surface oxygen functional groups and surface morphology using standard methods. The coconut shell biochar (CSB) sample with the optimal textural properties (CSB450) was then co-pyrolysed with Fe³⁺, Zn²⁺, and Fe³⁺/Zn²⁺ ions to produce metal doped biochars (Fe³⁺ - doped, Zn²⁺- doped, and Fe³⁺/Zn²⁺-doped biochar). Central Composite Design (CCD) of the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the process variables (metal loading, pyrolysis temperature and pyrolysis time) for the co-pyrolysis reaction. Similarly, RSM was used to optimized the process variables (mole ratio of toluene: benzyl chloride (T:BC), reaction temperature and reaction time) on benzyl chloride conversion to benzylated toluenes with the metal doped biochars. RSM-derived optimal conditions resulted in enhanced specific surface areas of 2098.04 m2 .g-1 for the Fe³⁺-doped biochar, 1721.40 m2 .g-1 for the Zn²⁺-doped biochar, and 2124.5 m2 .g-1 for the Fe³⁺/Zn²⁺-doped biochar. Compared with the pristine biochar (CSB450), the metal doped biochars (MBCs) showed improved physicochemical properties and textural properties. In addition, surface elemental analysis confirmed the successful incorporation of the Fe (10.09%), Zn (5.17%) and Fe/Zn (9.44/6.51%) on the MBCs. The results of the conversion process showed that the reaction temperature, mole ratio, and reaction time significantly affected benzyl chloride conversion with the metal doped biochar. Three novel models were developed for benzyl chloride conversion process. From the models, we predicted optimized process conditions; optimum benzyl chloride conversion of 93% was found for Fe3+/Zn2+ - doped biochar, with values of 87 and 81% for the Fe3+ - and Zn2+ - doped biochar respectively. This research established metal doped coconut shell biochar as an effective, low-cost, and environmentally friendly heterogeneous catalysts for organic transformations, presenting a viable alternative to conventional corrosive and non-recyclable catalysts in industrial alkylation processes.

State sponsored torture remains a serious human rights concern despite its clear prohibition under international and regional law. In Nigeria and South Africa, reports of torture by state agents, especially police and security personnel, continue to raise questions about respect for human dignity, the rule of law and accountability within state institutions. This study examines state sponsored torture through a comparative analysis of Nigeria and South Africa in order to understand why the practice persists and how both countries have responded to it. The study aims to examine the nature and justification of state sponsored torture and to assess the effectiveness of the legal and institutional frameworks designed to prevent it in Nigeria and South Africa. A doctrinal and comparative research approach is adopted, drawing on legislation, court decisions, international conventions, official reports and relevant academic writings. The study finds that although both countries have formally committed themselves to the prohibition of torture and have put legal safeguards in place, enforcement remains weak in practice. South Africa has recorded more progress, largely due to its strong constitutional culture and oversight mechanisms, while Nigeria continues to struggle with poor implementation of laws, limited accountability for offenders and deep rooted institutional impunity. In both jurisdictions, torture is still commonly justified on the grounds of security, crime control and public order. The study concludes that ending state sponsored torture requires more than legal prohibition. It demands genuine political will, effective oversight of security agencies and a culture of respect for human rights. The study recommends stronger institutional accountability, improved enforcement of existing laws and continuous human rights training as practical steps toward addressing torture in both Nigeria and South Africa

This study presented a comprehensive investigation into the failure mechanism and performance modelling of the combustion and emission characteristics of an industrial dualfired steam boiler operating on natural gas and diesel. The study was driven by the reoccurring failure on the third pass, operational inefficiencies and concerns over the environmental performance observed in the boiler system of a bottling company in Nigeria The failure investigation component of the study involved a systematic diagnostic assessment of the third-pass tubes including visual inspection, chemical composition analysis, micro- structural analysis and water chemistry analysis. For performance evaluation, the study employed experimental measurements and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using ANSYS Fluent to model combustion dynamics, temperature distribution, pollutant formation, and flue gas flow behaviour under various operating loads and fuel combinations. The models were validated against plant data, Furthermore, parametric studies were conducted to optimize key operational boiler control parameters such as air flow, load, variable frequency drive (VFD) and fuel flow rate using Taguchi methodology. Failure investigation results revealed key degradation phenomena due to due to thermal stresses, corrosive water chemistry, tube fouling, scaling, fouling-induced heat transfer impairment. Also, micro-structural examination showed thermal degradation, including decarburization, grain growth, and oxidation, alongside pitting corrosion, indicating high-temperature exposure and scale deposition weakened the metal. The water chemistry analysis revealed elevated levels of total dissolved solids, P-alkalinity, chloride, and silica in the boiler drum water, which contribute to scaling and localized overheating. Major failures was traced to inadequate water treatment and poor combustion control. CFD simulations revealed that scale layers significantly reduces heat transfer, leading to increased failure risk. An optimal water mass flow rate of 0.454kg/s was determined as the effective mass flow rate to attain the desired outlet steam temperature. The study revealed load as the most influential factor, leading to reduced emissions, improved combustion, operational stability and prolonged component life. The findings provide insights into enhancing boiler reliability, thermal efficiency, and environmental compliance.