Nigerian Journal of Environment and Health

Flood frequency analysis at the downstream of Ogbese catchment: A life-threatening environmental hazard

Oluwole O. Falade, Dave E. Ekpa, Bidemi Adejumo, O. J. Matthew — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Flood is a global natural disaster that has great effect on the environment and it is a threat to lives and properties. This study is on a comprehensive flood frequency analysis of the Ogbese River catchment, located in Ondo States, south-western Nigeria. The specific objectives are to provide quantitative estimates of flood magnitudes for various return periods and the associated environmental and health hazards/challenges in the river catchment. The study analyzed annual discharge data from 1989-2019 obtained from BeninOwena River Basin and the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) office, Akure. It adopted the Gumbel’s distribution technique - a probability distribution model for river discharge – and carried out a linear regression analysis to establish a relationship between discharge and reduced variate. Results revealed annual maximum discharges ranging from 284.77 m³/s (1990) to 713.19 m³/s (1995), with a mean of 450.77 m³/s and standard deviation of 88.87 m³/s. High flood magnitudes dominated the early–mid 1990s, with record events in 1991 (665.17 m³/s), 1992 (582.14 m³/s), and 1995 (713.19 m³/s). Conversely, 2000–2019 recorded lower average magnitudes, though significant floods occurred in 2003 (517.88 m³/s), 2010 (577.10 m³/s), 2014 (554.42 m³/s), and 2019 (524.18 m³/s). This temporal pattern suggests possible non-stationarity in the flood series, potentially influenced by climate variability and land use changes. The sharp contrast between the lowest and highest values highlights strong inter-annual variability typical of tropical monsoon systems. The Gumbel distribution provided an excellent fit, with regression analysis yielding R² = 1.0, confirming model reliability. The flood destroyed houses, farmlands, displaced residents, caused food insecurity and health challenges like waterborne diseases (typhoid, cholera, and diarrhea), vector-borne diseases (malaria), trauma and hypothermia. The study underscores significant flood variability and provides critical baseline data for hydraulic infrastructure design and flood risk planning. It emphasized the need for government and community adoption of modern hydrological techniques, proactive land use management, and sustainable flood prevention strategies to protect lives and property in the study area.

Pesticide resistance in Nigeria: Emerging threats to public health, food security, and ecosystem services

Nsikak J. Akpan, Isaac T. Akinwumi, Olusegun O. Awotoye — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Pesticide use in Nigeria has increased steadily in response to agricultural intensification, climate-driven pest pressure, and vectorborne disease control. However, inconsistent regulation, misuse, and heavy reliance on chemical pesticides have accelerated the emergence of resistance across agricultural pests, disease vectors, and weeds. This review synthesizes current evidence on pesticide use patterns, resistance mechanisms, environmental contamination, public-health risks, and implications for food security in Nigeria. A structured literature review was conducted using major academic databases and government reports published between 2000 and 2025. Findings show widespread detection of pesticide residues in cereals, legumes, water bodies, and fish, with several exceeding international maximum residue limits. Resistance in Anopheles, Aedes, Culex, Helicoverpa, Spodoptera, and stored-product beetles is now documented across multiple ecological zones, driven by metabolic detoxification, target-site mutations, behavioural avoidance, and cuticular barriers. Environmental impacts include biodiversity loss, soil degradation, aquatic toxicity, and bioaccumulation. Public-health consequences range from acute poisoning to chronic disorders affecting neurological, reproductive, endocrine, and metabolic systems. The review highlights regulatory gaps, economic losses from export bans, and the urgent need for integrated pest management, biopesticides, farmer training, residue monitoring, and national resistance-management programs. Coordinated, multi-sectoral interventions are essential to safeguard food systems, ecosystems, and public health.

Environmental and behavioral drivers of bacterial contamination in smoked bushmeat from Southwestern Nigeria: Implications for food safety and public health

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Bushmeat, especially smoked bushmeat, plays a vital role in food security and livelihoods across Africa, including Nigeria, due to its affordability, cultural significance, and extended shelf life. However, the trade and consumption of bushmeat raise significant public health concerns. This study assessed bacterial contamination and vendor hygiene practices associated with smoked bushmeat sold in selected markets of Southwestern Nigeria. Samples of smoked carcasses of Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) and Maxwelli Duiker (Philantomba maxwellii) were analyzed for bacterial load, species diversity, and antibiotic susceptibility profiles to quantify microbial contamination and characterize potential public health risks. Concurrently, knowledge, attitudes, and hygiene practices of bushmeat vendors were evaluated to identify behavioral and environmental contributors to contamination. Results revealed significant bacterial loads, with Escherichia coli 24 (22.2%) being the predominant organism followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae 18 (16.7%) and Staphylococcus aureus 17 (15.7%), while Salmonella spp. 2 (1.9%) was the least occurring. All bacterial isolates exhibited multidrug resistance. Despite vendors’ good knowledge (78.7%) and positive attitudes (69.4%) towards food safety, hygiene practices were predominantly poor (66.7%), characterized by inadequate utensil sanitation, unsafe processing and handling of bushmeat for sale, and absence of effective environmental health monitoring. These findings expose a critical gap between awareness and practice, compounded by unsanitary market conditions that facilitated microbial contamination. The study emphasizes the need for integrated interventions targeting microbial hazards and behavioral factors to improve food safety and public health outcomes. This work links microbiological data with environmental and behavioral insights, offering a comprehensive perspective on bushmeat safety, providing evidence for effective risk assessment and control strategies.

Health prevention practices in Nigeria: An empirical analysis of nurses' compliance with healthcare associated infections control in public healthcare facilities

Janet F. Ogundare, Solomon O. Adewoye, Olaniyi A. Opasola, Babatunde Y. Adiama — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) control remains a critical public health challenge, contributing significantly to patient morbidity, mortality, and increased healthcare costs in Nigeria. This study examined nurses’ compliance with infection prevention and control measures in public healthcare facilities across Southwest Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, targeting a population of 180,709 registered nurses and 126,863 midwife nurses. A total of 344 nurses were selected through stratified and quota sampling techniques to ensure representativeness. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire validated through expert review and psychometric testing. The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) value of 0.912 and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity (χ^² = 2820.76, p < 0.001) confirmed the dataset’s suitability for factor analysis. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) revealed two underlying constructs—Prevention Strategies (TPPQ) and HAI Practices (HAIPsQ), with strong factor loadings (>0.5). Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.755 and 0.933 indicated acceptable to excellent internal reliability, confirming the robustness of the instrument. Descriptive and inferential analyses, including correlation, regression, and ANOVA, were conducted to explore relationships between prevention strategies and HAI outcomes. Results revealed a significant negative correlation (r = – 0.382, p < 0.001), indicating that increased adherence to prevention practices reduced HAI incidence among nurses. Regression analysis further confirmed prevention strategies as a significant predictor of lower HAI outcomes (β = – 0.062, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the study found that while nurses demonstrated strong awareness and positive attitudes toward HAI prevention, gaps persist in consistent practice adherence. Strengthening continuous professional training, supervision, and institutional compliance monitoring is therefore essential to enhance infection prevention outcomes in Nigerian public healthcare facilities.