Rivers State University of Science and Technology

About: Rivers State University of Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Threatened species. The organization has 1826 authors who have published 1833 publications receiving 15183 citations.

An appraisal of the legal and institutional framework for combating corruption in Nigeria

Abstract: Purpose – To examine the adequacy or otherwise of the existing legal and institutional mechanisms for combating corruption in Nigeria and suggest useful strategies for achieving this.Design/methodology/approach – The pre‐existing statutory enactments, the Criminal and Penal Codes governing corruption in Nigeria were examined to assess their effectiveness in dealing with the crime of corruption. In addition, the two main enactments under the present civilian administration dealing with corruption, namely, the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000 and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004 were also X‐rayed.Findings – It was found that the earlier statutory enactments have proved ineffective in combating corruption in contemporary Nigeria, hence the enactment of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000 and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004, with the objective of dealing with various aspects of corruption.Practical implications – The imp...

Snake communities of moist rainforest and derived savanna sites of Nigeria: biodiversity patterns and conservation priorities

Abstract: The taxonomic composition and the abundance of two communities of snakes were studied in two different areas of southern Nigeria. One community was studied in a derived savanna area (environs of Ejule, 06°54′N, 07°23′E), and one community was studied in a moist rainforest area (environs of Eket, 04°50′N, 07°59′E). Both the specific diversity and the mean frequency of observation of snakes were significantly higher in the forest area than in the savanna area, and the dominance index was higher in the savanna than in the forest site. However, most of the species were found in only one of the two areas, depending on their habitat requirements (e.g. Gastropyxis smaragdina, Dispholidus typus, Thelotornis kirtlandii, Dendroaspis jamesoni, Bitis nasicornis, Causus maculatus, etc). The forest community housed a significant number of arboreal and semiaquatic taxa, but in both sites most of the species were terrestrial. The commonest species in the forest area was an oviparous, semiaquatic, batracophagous natricine snake (Afronatrix anoscopus), whereas the commonest species in the savanna area was an oviparous terrestrial lacertophagous psammophine snake (Psammophis phillipsi). Some conservation implications of our biodiversity analyses are presented. It is suggested that the moist rainforest represents a critically endangered habitat, and should deserve special attention by the international scientific community. Oil industry activity is especially dangerous for snake communities, especially in the southernmost regions of Nigeria.

Studies on the solid substrate fermentation of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L) Verde)

Abstract: Fermentation of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) has not been fully studied. In this project an attempt was made to ferment the beans to a dawadawa-type product using whole cotyledons in four days. Isolates from fermenting cotyledons showed Bacillus subtilis and B licheniformis as the major fermenting microorganisms. Fermentation increased the pH of the substrate from 7-0 to 8-0 after an initial fall in the first 24 h. Fermentation increased moisture, protein and fat contents of cotyledons. Total available carbohydrate reduced in 48 h to less than 50% of value at the start of fermentation but then increased to 92% on the fourth day. The increase has been attributed to secretion of slime by fermenting microorganism. Fermentation also reduced the trypsin inhibitor activity of cotyledons.

The ecology of fish occurring in shallow water creeks of a Nigerian mangrove swamp

Abstract: The population changes of nine species of fish from a mangrove swamp near Port Harcourt, Nigeria, including species of Tilapia, Sarotherodon, Aplocheilichthys, Porogobius and Yongeichthys are described. The most important factor affecting the fish populations is salinity.