Edible salts locally mined and processed in Awe and Keana communities of Nasarawa State, Nigeria are consumed without proper purification, thus posing possible health risks to consumers. This study evaluates metals/metalloids and natural radionuclides concentration in 75 composite salt samples from 15 different sources. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Gamma Spectrometry equipped with NaI (Ti) detector, were used to analyze metals/metalloids and natural radionuclides, respectively. The results showed that the average levels of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, and Pb in the unrefined salts exceeded regulatory permissible limits, with several containing 238U. In contrast, refined salt samples showed most metal and natural radionuclide levels below the regulatory permissible limits. Hazard Index levels for most unrefined salts exceeded unity, indicating potential non-carcinogenic health risks for both adults and children. Specific exposure to high cancer risk comes from As, Cd, Cr, and Ni in the unrefined salt samples studied. The presence of Cr (average CR values = 1.04 × 10− 4) in the investigated refined salts posed an increased carcinogenic risk in children. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that metal contamination in the salts was from multiple sources. The evaluated radiological health hazard indices of the salt samples were within the permissible limit set by the UNSCEAR, indicating no significant ionizing radiation health risk. Therefore, it is recommended that future studies should consider organ – specific cancer risk assessment to provide more detailed toxicological insight on the consumption of unrefined edible salts from Awe and Keana.
This research investigates whether the Elelen Field, a mature gas reservoir in the Niger Delta, can be repurposed for effective CO2 sequestration. By integrating historical production records with seismic data and well logs, we mapped the reservoir's petrophysical architecture, focusing on Sands A and B. Our analysis shows that Sand A remains a prime candidate for injection, maintaining high-end effective porosity (0.24-0.32) and exceptional permeability values reaching up to 7916 mD. Sand B likewise shows promising storage potential. Calculations indicate that Sand A can hold roughly 5.6 Mt of CO2 while Sand B offers a capacity of 1.3 Mt. Crucially, the presence of a substantial shale caprock suggests the field has the structural integrity needed to prevent leakage. Given the current decline in gas production, leveraging the existing infrastructure at Elelen for carbon storage appears both technically feasible and timely. However, before full-scale injection begins, we suggest moving to dynamic simulations to confirm how the CO2 will behave over several decades.
Adolescent pregnancy is a major public health issue in sub-Saharan Africa, including in Zambia. Its occurrence in rural areas is under-researched, and little is known about the factors driving it. This qualitative study explored the drivers of adolescent pregnancy in Kalabo District through 32 in-depth interviews with pregnant adolescents, parents, healthcare providers, traditional leaders, and marriage counsellors. Guided by the social ecological model and the theory of gender and power, thematic analysis examined how gender norms, gender socialisation, socio-economic conditions, and institutional gaps intersect to influence early childbearing. Four interconnected themes were developed: (1) culture and tradition, (2) early marriage, (3) barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights information and services, and (4) weak legal enforcement. The findings show that the sikenge initiation rite reinforces submissive gender roles and emphasises fertility, while poverty and social pressure promote early marriage and monetary gain. Limited youth-friendly healthcare services, contradictions between sexual and medical consent laws, and inadequate sexuality education restrict adolescents' and young people's access to relevant information and services. Weak enforcement of child protection laws and the informal settlement of cases of defilement1 further compromise adolescents' rights and safety.
Water resource competition is emerging as a major driver of regional instability, particularly in West Africa, where climate change and drought exacerbate scarcity. The construction of the Kandadji Dam by the Niger Republic on the River Niger, despite pre-existing water-sharing agreements with Nigeria, exemplifies how unilateral control over transboundary water resources can heighten international tensions. This study examines the implications of the dam’s construction on water security, regional stability, and potential conflict, while also exploring its prospects for fostering economic integration and peacebuilding between Nigeria and Niger. Drawing on water security theory, the research combines a systematic literature review with secondary data analysis from past agreements, policy papers, reports from international organizations, and published articles. The findings reveal that while the Kandadji Dam holds promise for addressing Niger’s energy needs and agricultural productivity, it poses significant threats to Nigeria’s water security, hydroelectric infrastructure, and livelihoods dependent on the River Niger. Furthermore, the dam’s unilateral construction risks intensifying drought-induced vulnerabilities and escalating socio-political tensions. The study concludes that although water conflicts rarely trigger wars, poor management and competition over scarce water resources exacerbate instability in fragile regions.
In recent years, the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by non-military actors (NMAs) has expanded beyond conventional battlefields to civilian and cultural spaces in Southeast Nigeria. This has intensified insecurity outside formal war zones. The existing analyses of IED violence in Nigeria have largely prioritized military fatalities and tactical innovation without addressing the cultural and symbolic dimensions of human harm. This study examines how IEDs employed by these malevolent actors in Southeast Nigeria threaten safety and cultural integrity. Drawing on the UNDP human‑security framework, we introduce cultural security as a pillar encompassing tangible (shrines, monuments) and intangible (festivals, oral traditions) heritage. Through in‑depth interviews with five community respondents in Anambra and Imo States, we document how IED blasts emptied markets, desecrated rituals, enforced compliance, and festival suspensions, and disrupted social cohesion. Anchored in Galtung’s cultural violence and Atran’s symbolic warfare theories, we show that IED violence weaponizes cultural symbols to coerce communities. We recommend co‑mapping hotspots, youth‑led patrols, and oral history archives to sustain Igbo resilience.
