X-Raying Rainfall Pattern and Variability in Northeastern Nigeria: Impacts on Access to Water Supply

This paper is premised on the hypothesis that the amount of rainfall in Nigeria decreases with increasing distance from the coastal areas to the north semi arid lands. This belief widely held in some circles does not really follow this pattern due to other climatic factors. This paper examined rainfall pattern and its variability in northeastern Nigeria and its impacts on access to water supply. Data on the mean monthly rainfall over a period of 33 years (1970-2002) were collected from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) in Abuja, Nigeria. The result of the analysis indicates that the mean annual rainfall in the study area is not dependent on distance but some other climatic factors such as relief, solar radiation, temperature, winds, and nature of soil among others. Thus, the amount of rainfall received in Taraba and Borno states which are located in the southern most and extreme end of the study area respectively were higher than that of Gombe state which lies in between them.

Palynology and stratigraphy of the Upper Miocene Chad Formation, Bornu Basin,northeastern Nigeria

Both lithological and palynological analyses were employed to decipher sedimentary stacking patterns and to date the sediments within the interval 50—325 m in Kemar-1 well,Bornu Basin,northeastern Nigeria.Eight different lithofacies units deposited in various environments were recognized.They are:(1) the grayish sandy claystone,rich in organic matter and associated with lignite,deposited in a continental to lacustrine environment;(2) the micaceous claystone,rich in muscovite flakes and organic matter,deposited in a lacustrine environment;(3) the lithified claystone which intercalates the dark gray shale,and deposited in a marine setting;(4) the shale;(5) the micaceous sandstone,which is characterized by presence of muscovite,silty to granular grain sizes,well sorted and deposited in a meandering setting;(6) the poorly-sorted sandstone.It is poorly sorted,poorly-graded,and coarse-grained,with erosive surfaces to underlying facies,and deposited in a fluvial environment;(7) the heterolithic clayey sandstone,poorly graded,grayish,with a degree of organic richness,suggesting an anoxic lacustrine environment;and(8) the grayish claystone which is nonlithic and rarely ferruginized marking the Upper Miocene/Eocene boundary.One main palynological zone,i.e.,the Echitricolporites spinosus assemblage zone,has been established.The base of the studied section at 385 m is characterized by the last up-hole occurrence of Grimsdalea magnaclavata suggestive of Eocene boundary while the overlying sediments are characterized by Late Miocene marker species such as E.spinosus,Elaeis guineensis,Anthocerus sp.,Nymphaea lotus,and Retistepho.nocolpites gracilis.The Chad Formation is dated as Late Miocene age unconformably overlying the Eocene Kerri-Kerri Formation which indicated that the Chad Formation was probably deposited during an alternation of lacustrine and continental settings,due to climatic change.

Sex Determination Using Mandibular Canine among Northeastern Nigerian Population

Establishing a person’s identity is important for both legal and humanitarian purposes.Sex determination is a key characteristic used in the identification of a deceased individual.The aim of this study was to determine sex by using mandibular canines among individuals in the Northeastern Nigerian population.Two hundred and eight individuals(102 men and 106 women)participated in this study.The mesiodistal widths of the mandibular canines and intercanine distances were measured using a vernier caliper and a divider.Step‑wise logistic regression analyses were used to determine sex based on mandibular parameters.Male participants had significantly higher mandibular mesiodistal width than female participants.Similarly,the canine index was significantly higher in male participants than in female participants.The mesiodistal width of the left mandibular canine exhibited the highest sexual dimorphism(9.78%)and was the best characteristic for use in determining sex,with an accuracy of 75%.Among the Northwestern Nigerian population,sex can be most accurately determined using the mesiodistal width of the left mandibular canine.