readna.blogspot.com
Sunday, September 27, 2015
read it here: DISCUSS THE SOCIAL ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCIES OF BOKO ...
read it here: DISCUSS THE SOCIAL ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCIES OF BOKO ...: ABSTRACT The Boko Haram fundamentalist Islamic group is the first insurgent organization in Nigeria to be classified as a terrorist organiz...
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING INSURANCE IN NIGERIA
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING INSURANCE IN NIGERIA
1. NEGATIVE OR BAD RECORD: Experience has revealed that many insurance companies has failed in their duties of settling their policyholders by giving excuses on the reasons why they should not settle them. Because of this, many would be customers or prospective customers still entertain fears as to the insurance firms abilities to settle their claims when it eventually surface.
2. PREVIOUS RECORD: Past record has shown that individuals do depend on their relatives, friends and well wishers in the area of monetary assistance as to the provision of remedies to their private or business problems which makes it difficult for individuals who desires to attract financial assistance from insurance companies to be discouraged.
3. Attitude: An attitude may be defined as a learned disposition to behave in a consistently favourable or unfavourable way with respect to a given object (Schiffman and Kanuk, 2000). Stated differently, it positions people into a frame of mind of liking or disliking things, of moving toward or away from them‘ (Kolter and Armstrong, 2008: p144). It is acknowledged that people have attitudes toward almost everything - religion, politics, clothes, music, food (Kotler, 2003). For instance The demand for life insurance in a country may be affected by the unique culture of the country to the extent that it affects the population‘s risk aversion (Douglas and Wildavski, 1982). Henderson and Milhouse (1987) argue that an individual‘s religion can provide an insight into the individual‘s behaviour; and understanding religion is an important component of understanding a nation‘s unique culture. Also, Zelizer (1979) notes that religion historically has provided a strong source of cultural opposition to life insurance as many religious people believe that a reliance on life insurance results from a distrust of God‘s protecting care. But historically, some form of social insurance existed in Nigerian and Africa society long before the introduction of the modern insurance in Nigeria (Osoka, 1992). These social schemes evolved through the existence of extended family system and social associations such as age grades, and other unions.
4. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF INSURANCE CULTURE: In a recent study of quality of life in developing countries with reference to South Africa (Moller, 2004), income and social security (own wages, ability to provide for family, insurance against illness/death and income in old age) have been treated as one of the major indicators of quality of life. This standpoint stresses the significance of insurance to human life. Ironically, insurance services seem not to have been so accepted enthusiastically in developing countries. The abysmal level of insurance culture in developing economies has attracted relative interests among researchers and practitioners alike. Risk has been identified as a central fact of life in the rural areas of less-developed countries (Udry, 1994).
5. LOW LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Educational status of Nigerians has significant influence on their attitude towards insurance. Educated people have more positive attitude to insurance than less educated ones. In a recent insurance conducted in Lagos, Nigeria. The choice of Lagos is due to its nature as a metropolitan city where most Nigerian ethnic groups are largely represented. Fact shows that respondents with higher education outperformed others even though no statistical significant difference was observed with vocational education.
6. UNEMPLOYMENT ISSUE: Employees working status has a significance effect on Nigerians attitude towards insurance. Retired and Employed Nigerians with means attitude scores of 28.50 and 28.14 respectively outperformed their competitors. No significant difference was observed between retired, employed and Self-employed respondents. On the other hand, self-employed people have significantly higher attitude towards insurance than unemployed, student and part time workers. This result is quite similar to findings in most developed world.
In Conclusion, The findings of this study suggest some major implications for marketing of insurances services in Nigerian businesses environment which is a big market. Given that attitude is strongly linked to behaviour, marketers of insurance services targeting Nigerians are confronted with the challenge of encouraging people to embrace insurance institution and its associated benefits. Based on the findings, this article confirms negative attitudes of Nigerians to insurance services further. But apart from this broad finding in respect of the negative attitudes to this line of business, this study suggests some specific findings based on different demographical factors of the respondents. The findings serve as inputs to marketers of insurance services on how they formulate and implement relevant marketing strategies towards addressing the nonchalant attitude of Nigerians to insurance. For instance, specific marketing strategies are required to encourage the young generation below 46 years of age, the divorced/separated, and the less-educated to embrace and appreciate the role of insurance. Since, the basic issue associated with this lack of interest rests mainly in their lack of appreciation of the roles of benefits of insurance services; it is recommended that significant marketing communication activities with instant compensation to both marketers be targeted more at this set of people highlighted. This will help to kindle their interest in the business and brings the insurance institution to the highly exalted position it belongs in their perception.
DISCUSS THE SOCIAL ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCIES OF BOKO HARAM
ABSTRACT
The Boko Haram fundamentalist Islamic group is the first insurgent organization in Nigeria to be classified as a terrorist organization by the United States of America and its allies. Since 2009 the violence the group has unleashed on the Nigerian State is unprecedented in the history of insurgency in the country. Several studies have intellectualized the origin, motive and other activities of this infamous rebellious group. To advance the discourse on Boko Haram, this study examines the measures the Nigerian government has taken so far to address the menace posed by the Boko Haram insurgents. Using library research and interview methods, the findings of the study indicate that first, that the path Government should not follow is using the same methods it used to combat the Niger Delta militants to address the Boko Haram insurgents. Second, that peace negotiation is most unlikely to succeed with insurgents like those of Boko Haram with vile ideologies, whose core demands undermine democracy and good governance. Rather, it is more likely to succeed with insurgent groups pursuing legitimate political or economic based grievances that are capable of deepening democracy and good governance, that is, if Government accepts their core demands. Third, that peace negotiation is most unlikely to succeed with Boko Haram insurgents, since they do not have the capacity to lead a provincial government, after disavowing terrorism. This study strongly recommends that to checkmate the threat posed by Boko Haram insurgents, Government should treat them like terrorists rather than freedom fighters
THE HISTORY OF BOKO HARAM
Boko Haram, officially called Wilāyat Gharb Ifrīqīyyah West Africa Province, ISWAP), and formerly called Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād' "Group of the People of Sunnah for Preaching and Jihad"), is a jihadist group based in northeastern Nigeria, also active in Chad, Niger and northern Cameroon. The group is led by Abubakar Shekau. Estimates of the group's membership varies between 7,000 and 10,000 fighters. The group initially had links to al-Qaeda, but in 2014, it expressed support for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant before pledging formal allegiance to it in March 2015.
After its founding in 2002, Boko Haram's increasing radicalization led to a violent uprising in July 2009 in which its leader was summarily executed. Its unexpected resurgence, following a mass prison break in September 2010, was accompanied by increasingly sophisticated attacks, initially against soft targets, and progressing in 2011 to include suicide bombings of police buildings and the United Nations office in Abuja. The government's establishment of a state of emergency at the beginning of 2012, extended in the following year to cover the entire northeast of Nigeria, resulted in a marked increase in both security force abuses and militant attacks. Boko Haram killed more than 13,000 civilians between 2009 and 2015, including around 10,000 in 2014, in attacks occurring mainly in northeast Nigeria.
The Nigerian military initially proved ineffective in countering the insurgency, hampered by an entrenched culture of official corruption. Since mid-2014, the militants have been in control of swathes of territory in and around their home state of Borno, estimated at 50,000 square kilometres (20,000 sq mi) in January 2015, but have not captured the capital of Borno state, Maiduguri, where the group was originally based. However, after joint military operation with Nigerian Armed Forces, Chadian Armed Forces, Cameroonian Armed Forces, local vigilante groups, local hunters and local fishermen, Boko Haram lost its capital Gwoza and most of its occupied territories while it is still controlling southern parts of Borno State.
Boko Haram founding and early years
Mohammed Yusuf founded the sect that became known as Boko Haram in 2002 in Maiduguri, the capital of the north-eastern state of Borno. He established a religious complex and school that attracted poor Muslim families from across Nigeria and neighbouring countries. The center had the political goal of creating an Islamic state, and became a recruiting ground for jihadis. By denouncing the police and state corruption, Yusuf attracted followers from unemployed youths. It has been speculated that the reason Yusuf founded Boko Haram appears to be that he saw an opportunity to exploit public outrage at government corruption by linking it to Western influence in governance.[64] He is reported to have used the existing infrastructure in Borno of the Izala Society (Jama'at Izalatil Bidiawa Iqamatus Sunnah), a popular conservative Islamic sect, to recruit members, before breaking away to form his own faction. The Izala were originally welcomed into government, along with people sympathetic to Yusuf. Boko Haram conducted its operations more or less peacefully during the first seven years of its existence, withdrawing from society into remote north-eastern areas. The government repeatedly ignored warnings about the increasingly militant character of the organization. The Council of Ulama advised the government and the Nigerian Television Authority not to broadcast Yusuf's preaching, but their warnings were ignored. Yusuf's arrest elevated him to hero status..
ITS SOCIAL ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCIES
Within the last few years, heightened social insecurity in Nigeria has arguably fuelled the crime rate, leaving unpalatable consequences for the nation’s economy and its growth. For the purpose of definition, insecurity could be described as the presence of fear and absence of economic or physical protection for persons, buildings, organisations or country against destruction or threats like crime or attacks.
The rates of terrorist bombings, kidnappings, armed robbery attacks on banks as well as other violent crimes in recent months, have led to a prevalent massive loss of the nation’s human resources. This ugly trend poses a threat to the future of the nation’s agricultural productivity level, private sector investment volume, petroleum sector growth rate, manpower and overall economic development.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s unemployment rate increased to 23.9 per cent in 2011 compared with 21.1 per cent in 2010 and 19.7 per cent of 2009. The country has a youth population of 80 million, representing about 60 per cent of the total population with a growth rate of 2.6 per cent per year and the national demography suggests that the youth population remains vibrant with an average annual entrant to the labour force at 1.8 million between 2006 and 2011.
Several corporate organisations that have human resource policies on workers’ compensation, insurance and other forms of workers’ welfare have deliberately refused to implement them. In most cases, the list of contract staff and expatriates on their payroll far surpasses that of other personnel in a country with disturbing unemployment rate records. The Federal Ministry of Labour has over the years, abandoned its responsibility as regards labour inspection and general supervision of employers in the country.
“Malnutrition is the underlying cause of morbidity and mortality of a large proportion of children under-5 in Nigeria. It accounts for more than 50 per cent of deaths of children in this age bracket. The deaths of newborn babies in Nigeria represent a quarter of the total number of deaths of children under-five. The majority of these occur within the first week of life, mainly due to complications during pregnancy and delivery reflecting the intimate link between newborn survival and the quality of maternal care. Similarly, a woman’s chance of dying from pregnancy and childbirth in Nigeria is 1 in 13.
Amidst this alarming level of social insecurity, the wide gap between the few corrupt rich citizens and the poor is further being widened. For instance, the value of private properties acquired with public funds which have been obviously looted by a few ex-public office holders without rebuke, is scaring. Private aircraft owned only by a few politicians, businessmen and clergymen are also estimated to have grown in the country from about 20 in year 2000 to over 150 in 2012, at a time when many Nigerians are living below the poverty line.
Massive loss of human resources and its effect as well as government’s unimpressive response to the various forms of crime do not offer hopes that the nation is likely to realize its short and long term economic targets. The 2012 Report from Amnesty International indicates that Nigeria recorded 215 deaths from violent attacks by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect between June and December 2011.
Kidnapping has equally increased in both frequency and scope, especially in the Niger Delta states and the south eastern part of the country.
Conclusions
First, the group may have been nurtured from outside. Sources in the Maiduguri religious establishment say it is possible that money from Salafist groups in Saudi Arabia supported it in the early years. It appears that Boko Haram members also received training in rebel camps in the Sahel during a time of crisis for the group.
Second, Boko Haram has grown at a time when there are many national issues that draw anger and feed the group. This includes the continued killing and corruption perpetrated by the police on people connected to the group; the brutal manner in which the police behave to the public at large; the financial corruption of the government; the moral corruption of the religious establishment (as perceived by Boko Haram); a festering conflict in Plateau state.
Now that the group has expanded beyond a small number of mosques, radical reforms in policing strategy are necessary if there is to be any progress in gaining intelligence about where—and who—the group is. Indeed, widespread radical reform of the police is long overdue throughout Nigeria.
REFERENCES
Akpan, F. (2000). Ethnic minority and the Nigerian state: The Ogoni Struggle after Ken Saro-Wiwa. In O. Okome (Ed.), Before I am Hanged Ken Saro-Wiwa: Literature, politics and dissent. Trenton: African World Press Inc
Al Jazeera Cable News Network.
Bartolotta, C. (2011). Terrorism in Nigeria: The rise of Boko Haram. The Whiteheard Journal of Diplomacy and International Relations.
Campbell, J. (2013, October). Should U.S. fear Boko Haram?. CNN.
Channel Televison News Programme. (2013, December 20).
Chothia, F. (2012). Who are Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamist?. BBC News.
Herskovits, J. (2012). In Nigeria, Boko Haram is not the problem. The New York Times.
Ibeanu, O. (2001). Oiling the friction: Environmental conflict management in Nigeria Delta. Nigeria Environmental Change and Security Project Report, (6).
Jonathan, G. (2013, December 23). RE: Before it is too late. Premium Times.
Murtaza, N. (2013). Terrorism: Flawed theories. Retrieved from www.dawn.com/news.
STATE VARIOUS ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTANT AND DISCUSS THEIR EFFECT ON HUMAN
INTRODUCTION
The first week of December 1952 was unusually cold in London, so residents burned large quantities of coal in their fireplaces to keep warm. Early on December 5, moisture in the air began condensing into fog near the ground. The fog mixed with smoke from domestic fires and emissions from factories and diesel-powered buses. Normally the fog would have risen higher in the atmosphere and dispersed, but cold air kept it trapped near the ground. Over the next four days, the smog became so thick and dense that many parts of London were brought to a standstill.
Public officials did not realize that the Great Smog was the most deadly air pollution event on record until mortality figures were published several weeks afterward. Some 4,000 people died in London between December 5-9 of illnesses linked to respiratory problems such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and the smog's effects caused another 8,000 deaths over the next several months. Samples showed that victims' lungs contained high levels of very fine particles, including carbon material and heavy metals such as lead, zinc, tin, and iron.
Air pollution was not news in 1952—London's air had been famously smoky for centuries—but the Great Smog showed that it could be deadly. The event spurred some of the first governmental actions to reduce emissions from fuel combustion, industrial operations, and other manmade sources. Over the past half-century, scientists have learned much more about the causes and impacts of atmospheric pollution. Many nations have greatly reduced their emissions, but the problem is far from solved. In addition to threatening human health, air pollutants damage ecosystems, weaken Earth's stratospheric ozone shield, and contribute to global climate change
Air pollution is the introduction of particulates, biological molecules, or other harmful materials into Earth's atmosphere, causing disease, death to humans, damage to other living organisms such as food crops, or the natural or built environment. Air pollution may come from anthropogenic or natural sources.
Primary Air Pollutants
Primary air pollutants are emitted directly into the air from sources. They can have effects both directly and as precursors of secondary air pollutants (chemicals formed through reactions in the atmosphere), which are discussed in the following section.
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a gas formed when sulfur is exposed to oxygen at high temperatures during fossil fuel combustion, oil refining, or metal smelting. SO2 is toxic at high concentrations, but its principal air pollution effects are associated with the formation of acid rain and aerosols. SO2 dissolves in cloud droplets and oxidizes to form sulfuric acid (H2SO4), which can fall to Earth as acidrain or snow or form sulfate aerosol particles in the atmosphere. Associated impacts are discussedbelow in Section 5, "Aerosols," and Section 7, "Acid Deposition."
Nitrogen oxides(NO and NO2, referred together as NOx) are highly reactive gases formed when oxygen and nitrogen react at high temperatures during combustion or lightning strikes. Nitrogen present in fuel can also be emitted as NOX during combustion. Emissions are dominated by fossil fuel combustion at northern mid-latitudes and by biomass burning in the tropics. shows the distribution of NOx emissions to the atmosphere in 2006 as determined by satellite measurements of atmospheric NO2concentrations.
In the atmosphere NOX reacts with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon monoxide to produce ground-level ozone through a complicated chain reaction mechanism. It is eventually oxidized to nitric acid (HNO3). Like sulfuric acid, nitric acid contributes to acid deposition and to aerosol formation.
Carbon monoxide
(CO) is an odorless, colorless gas formed by incomplete combustion of carbon in fuel. The main source is motor vehicle exhaust, along with industrial processes and biomass burning. Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells, reducing their ability to transport and release oxygen throughout the body. Low exposures can aggravate cardiac ailments, while high exposures cause central nervous system impairment or death. It also plays a role in the generation of ground-level ozone,.Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including hydrocarbons (CxHy) but also other organic chemicals are emitted from a very wide range of sources, including fossil fuel combustion, industrial activities, and natural emissions from vegetation and fires. Some anthropogenic VOCs such as benzene are known carcinogens.
Secondary Air Pollutants
Secondary pollutants form when primary pollutants react in the atmosphere. Table 1 summarizes common forms of atmospheric reactions.
For reactions to take place, molecules have to collide. However, gases are present in the atmosphere at considerably lower concentrations than are typical for laboratory experiments or industrial processes, so molecules collide fairly infrequently. As a result, most atmospheric reactions that occur at significant rates involve at least one radical —a molecule with an odd number of electrons and hence an unpaired electron in its outer shell. The unpaired electron makes the radical unstable and highly reactive with other molecules. Radicals are formed when stable molecules are broken apart, a process that requires large amounts of energy.
Pollutant Sources Effects
Ozone. A gas that can be found in two places. Near the ground (the troposphere), it is a major part of smog. The harmful ozone in the lower atmosphere should not be confused with the protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere (stratosphere), which screens out harmful ultraviolet rays. Ozone is not created directly, but is formed when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds mix in sunlight. That is why ozone is mostly found in the summer. Nitrogen oxides come from burning gasoline, coal, or other fossil fuels. There are many types of volatile organic compounds, and they come from sources ranging from factories to trees. Ozone near the ground can cause a number of health problems. Ozone can lead to more frequent asthma attacks in people who have asthma and can cause sore throats, coughs, and breathing difficulty. It may even lead to premature death. Ozone can also hurt plants and crops.
Carbon monoxide. A gas that comes from the burning of fossil fuels, mostly in cars. It cannot be seen or smelled. Carbon monoxide is released when engines burn fossil fuels. Emissions are higher when engines are not tuned properly, and when fuel is not completely burned. Cars emit a lot of the carbon monoxide found outdoors. Furnaces and heaters in the home can emit high concentrations of carbon monoxide, too, if they are not properly maintained. Carbon monoxide makes it hard for body parts to get the oxygen they need to run correctly. Exposure to carbon monoxide makes people feel dizzy and tired and gives them headaches. In high concentrations it is fatal. Elderly people with heart disease are hospitalized more often when they are exposed to higher amounts of carbon monoxide.
Nitrogen dioxide. A reddish-brown gas that comes from the burning of fossil fuels. It has a strong smell at high levels. Nitrogen dioxide mostly comes from power plants and cars. Nitrogen dioxide is formed in two ways—when nitrogen in the fuel is burned, or when nitrogen in the air reacts with oxygen at very high temperatures. Nitrogen dioxide can also react in the atmosphere to form ozone, acid rain, and particles. High levels of nitrogen dioxide exposure can give people coughs and can make them feel short of breath. People who are exposed to nitrogen dioxide for a long time have a higher chance of getting respiratory infections. Nitrogen dioxide reacts in the atmosphere to form acid rain, which can harm plants and animals.
Particulate matter. Solid or liquid matter that is suspended in the air. To remain in the air, particles usually must be less than 0.1-mm wide and can be as small as 0.00005 mm. Particulate matter can be divided into two types—coarse particles and fine particles. Coarse particles are formed from sources like road dust, sea spray, and construction. Fine particles are formed when fuel is burned in automobiles and power plants. Particulate matter that is small enough can enter the lungs and cause health problems. Some of these problems include more frequent asthma attacks, respiratory problems, and premature death.
Sulfur dioxide. A corrosive gas that cannot be seen or smelled at low levels but can have a “rotten egg” smell at high levels. Sulfur dioxide mostly comes from the burning of coal or oil in power plants. It also comes from factories that make chemicals, paper, or fuel. Like nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide reacts in the atmosphere to form acid rain and particles. Sulfur dioxide exposure can affect people who have asthma or emphysema by making it more difficult for them to breathe. It can also irritate people's eyes, noses, and throats. Sulfur dioxide can harm trees and crops, damage buildings, and make it harder for people to see long distances.
Lead. A blue-gray metal that is very toxic and is found in a number of forms and locations. Outside, lead comes from cars in areas where unleaded gasoline is not used. Lead can also come from power plants and other industrial sources. Inside, lead paint is an important source of lead, especially in houses where paint is peeling. Lead in old pipes can also be a source of lead in drinking water. High amounts of lead can be dangerous for small children and can lead to lower IQs and kidney problems. For adults, exposure to lead can increase the chance of having heart attacks or strokes.
Toxic air pollutants. A large number of chemicals that are known or suspected to cause cancer. Some important pollutants in this category include arsenic, asbestos, benzene, and dioxin. Each toxic air pollutant comes from a slightly different source, but many are created in chemical plants or are emitted when fossil fuels are burned. Some toxic air pollutants, like asbestos and formaldehyde, can be found in building materials and can lead to indoor air problems. Many toxic air pollutants can also enter the food and water supplies. Toxic air pollutants can cause cancer. Some toxic air pollutants can also cause birth defects. Other effects depend on the pollutant, but can include skin and eye irritation and breathing problems.
Stratospheric ozone depleters. Chemicals that can destroy the ozone in the stratosphere. These chemicals include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, and other compounds that include chlorine or bromine. CFCs are used in air conditioners and refrigerators, since they work well as coolants. They can also be found in aerosol cans and fire extinguishers. Other stratospheric ozone depleters are used as solvents in industry. If the ozone in the stratosphere is destroyed, people are exposed to more radiation from the sun (ultraviolet radiation). This can lead to skin cancer and eye problems. Higher ultraviolet radiation can also harm plants and animals.
Greenhouse gases. Gases that stay in the air for a long time and warm up the planet by trapping sunlight. This is called the “greenhouse effect” because the gases act like the glass in a greenhouse. Some of the important greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Carbon dioxide is the most important greenhouse gas. It comes from the burning of fossil fuels in cars, power plants, houses, and industry. Methane is released during the processing of fossil fuels, and also comes from natural sources like cows and rice paddies. Nitrous oxide comes from industrial sources and decaying plants. The greenhouse effect can lead to changes in the climate of the planet. Some of these changes might include more temperature extremes, higher sea levels, changes in forest composition, and damage to land near the coast. Human health might be affected by diseases that are related to temperature or by damage to land and water.
CONCLUSION
Air pollutants are major contributors to climate change. This connection is well known to scientists, although it has not yet permeated environmental policy. Figure 19 shows global climate forcing for the year 2000, relative to 1850, caused by different observed perturbations to the Earth system. Climate forcing from a given perturbation is defined as the mean resulting imbalance between energy input and energy output per unit time and unit area of Earth's surface (watts per square meter or W/m2), with all else remaining constant, including temperature. A positive radiative forcing means a decrease in energy output and hence a warming,. Negative radiative forcing,means a decrease in energy input and hence a cooling.
Among the major greenhouse gases in Figure 19 are methane and tropospheric ozone, which are both of concern for air quality. Light absorption by black carbon aerosol particles also has a significant warming effect. Taken together these three agents produce more radiative forcing than CO2 . Reductions in these air pollutants thus would reap considerable benefit for climate change.
However, air pollutants can also have a cooling effect that compensates for greenhouse warming.
This factor can be seen from the negative radiative forcings due to non light-absorbing sulfate and organic aerosols originating from fossil fuel combustion. Scattering by these aerosols is estimated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to have a direct radiative forcing of -1.3 W/m2 , although this figure is highly uncertain. Indirect radiative forcing from increased cloud reflectivity due to anthropogenic aerosols is even more uncertain but could be as large as -1 W/m2. Scattering aerosols have thus masked a significant fraction of the warming imposed by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases over the past two centuries. Aerosol and acid rain control policies, though undeniably urgent to protect public health and ecosystems, will reduce this masking effect and expose us to more greenhouse warming. Influence also runs the other way. Global climate change has the potential to magnify air pollution problems by raising Earth's temperature (contributing to tropospheric ozone formation) and increasing the frequency of stagnation events. Climate change is also expected to cause more forest fires and dust storms, which can cause severe air quality problems
References
"Reports". WorstPolluted.org. Archived from the original on 11 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
"7 million premature deaths annually linked to air pollution". WHO. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
Evidence growing of air pollution's link to heart disease, death at the Wayback Machine (archived June 3, 2010) // American Heart Association. May 10, 2010
"Newly detected air pollutant mimics damaging effects of cigarette smoke" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-08-29.
"Infant Inhalation Of Ultra-fine Air Pollution Linked To Adult Lung Disease". Sciencedaily.com. 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
"The Effect of Changing Background Emissions on External Cost Estimates for Secondary Particulates" (PDF). Open environmental sciences. 2008.
David Pennise and Kirk Smith. "Biomass Pollution Basics" (PDF). WHO.
"Indoor air pollution and household energy". WHO and UNEP. 2011.
Goldstein, Allen H., Charles D. Koven, Colette L. Heald, Inez Y. Fung (2009-05-05). "Biogenic carbon and anthropogenic pollutants combine to form a cooling haze over the southeastern United States". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
Scientific American, June 2014, p. 14
"AP 42, Volume I". Epa.gov. Archived from the original on 24 September 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
"United Kingdom's emission factor database". Naei.org.uk. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
PROSPECT OF WIND ENERGY GENERATION IN NIGERIA
PROSPECTS OF WIND ENERGY GENERATION IN NIGERIA
BY
Chinedu J.E
ABSTRACT
About 90% of the Nigerian economy is dependent on crude oil. Expectedly, most of her generating plants are thermal power stations which are presently operating below installed capacity. This paper therefore looks at the prospects of wind energy in Nigeria. The wind speed data collected from some towns in Nigeria indicates that the country has good sites for the installation of wind energy conversion systems. The paper recommends the incorporation of wind energy in the renewable energy resources development programme of a developing economy like Nigeria. This would be a way of boosting her energy needs, as well as accelerating the sluggish nature of the nation’s rural electrification programmes.
TABLE OF CONTENT
ABSTRACT
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 CONVENTIONAL ENERGY GENERATION IN NIGERIA
2.3 PERFORMANCE OF CONVENTIONAL ENERGY IN NIGERIA
2.4 MERITS AND DEMERITS OF CONVENTIONAL ENERGY GENERATION
2.5 Wind Power in Nigeria
2.6 Wind Power utilization today
2.7 The future of wind energy system
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND POTENTIALS IN NIGERIA
POWER IN THE WIND
WIND ENERGY POTENTIALS IN NIGERIA
3.2 METHOD
3.3 RESULTS
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
MERITS OF WIND POWER
REFERENCES
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
For the past ten years, the Federal government of Nigeria has embarked on aggressive rural electrification projects across the country. This laudable project is aimed at providing electricity to the rural dwellers where about 64% of the entire populations live. By this programme also, the Federal government hopes to minimize, if not curb the rural –urban migration—thereby forcing young school leavers and graduates to remain in the village self-employed rather than moving to the urban areas seeking white-collar jobs [1]. Often, however, the pace of rural electrification is far slower than rural people and the Federal government of Nigeria would like. Rural electrification is difficult because it is capital intensive and has unfavourable short-term economics. As is normally the case, with large central Power plants and grid-extension programs, rural electrification programs can easily fall victim to construction difficulties, routing impediments, competition from urban/industrial power demands, and a lack of implementation flexibility [2]. This conventional system of using large centrally located power plants and grid extension for rural electrification is currently being challenged by the advent of smaller, modular technologies such as wind power, micro-hydro and photovoltaics.
This paper looks at the conventional energy generation as well as the wind energy potential in Nigeria. It highlights the importance of wind energy as a way of accelerating the sluggish nature of the Federal government of Nigeria rural electrification programmes.
Relevant conclusions are made using available wind speed data collected at the various sites in Nigeria.
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Energy major impact on every aspect of our socio-economic life. It plays a vital role in the economic, social and political development of our nation [1]. Despite the abundance of energy resources in Nigeria, the country is still in short supply of electrical power. Only about 40% of the nation’s over 140 million has access to grid electricity [2]. Even the electricity supply to the consumers that are connected to the grid is erratic. There is therefore the need to harness renewable energy potential (such as wind, solar e.t.c) for reliable power supply in this country. Also the concern about global warming and continued apprehensions about nuclear power around the world should drive us into strong demand for wind generation.
Wind turbine converts wind energy into electrical energy, which is fed into electricity supply system.
The main advantages of electricity generation from renewable energy sources, such as wind, are the absence of harmful emissions, very clean and almost infinite availability of wind that is converted into electricity [3].
Wind generation has been described to be one of the mature and cost effective resources among different renewable energy technologies [4].Wind is a natural phenomenon related to the movement of air masses caused primarily by the differential solar heating of the earth's surface [5]. Wind is a classical example of a stochastic variable; due to this stochastic nature, wind energy cannot be controlled, but can be managed. This is because wind power is available only when the wind speed is above a certain threshold [6].
This paper therefore describes the wind energy potential in Nigeria and the conditions to be met before the wind generator can be connected to the existing grid and how it can be connected. The effect the new generation source might have on the existing power network will also be discussed.
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
The various wind generator projects in Nigeria were neglected in the last decade due to increasing popularity and low price of crude oil. Inrecent times the high price of Petroleum products lead to attempt at restructuring these windmills [5, 6]. However, difficulties in obtaining spare parts for models which were no longer being manufactured hindered the restoration. Also, some other factors that led to the failure of past wind generators are the assessment of wind energy potentials, feasibility studies on wind energy utilization , inadequate wind data base used as the bases for designing and building different prototypes that need be considered in reducing locally manufactured windmills.
2.1 CONVENTIONAL ENERGY GENERATION IN NIGERIA
The bulk of the supply for electrical energy in the country
has been from the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA).
It expands annually in order to meet the ever increasing demand [3]. Presently, that task is being performed by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN. Energy production and consumption in Nigeria has been on the increase.
2.3 PERFORMANCE OF CONVENTIONAL ENERGY IN NIGERIA
At present, the installed and available electrical capacity
in the Nigerian generating stations are shown in Table 1.
It shows that despite a total grid capacity of 5924.7 MW, only 4586 MW were available. Thus 22% of the installed capacity was unavailable. This may be due to operational inadequacies and inability of units to operate at full capacities of the generating stations and their respective percentage contributions to the total energy products.
Table 1:
Generating plants—Grid Stations
Key: + = Operational inactive
Site Type Installed capacity
[MW]
Available capacity
[MW]
Number of units
Afam
Thermal
700
488
18
Delta Thermal 812 540 20
Egbin Thermal 1320 1100 6
Ijora Thermal 66.7 40 3
Sapele Thermal 1020 790 10
Jebba Hydro 540 450 6
Kainji Hydro 760 560 12
Shiroro Hydro 600 600 6
+ Orji
River
Thermal 60 - 4
Others Diesel 46 18 -
2.4 MERITS AND DEMERITS OF CONVENTIONAL ENERGY GENERATION
The use of conventional methods in electrical power generation has a number of advantages:
1 Hydro plants have lower operating and maintenance costs since no fuel and steam generators are needed.
2 Hydro plants are quicker to start up on load and are
also quicker to shut down for maintenance.
3 Hydro plants are less prone to fire outbreak because of the absence of fuel.
4 Thermal power stations which are built on much smaller areas of land than hydro stations have fewer resettlement and compensation problems
5 Thermal stations have lower installation costs.
6 Installation can more easily be brought closer to a land centre for thermal plants.
7 The use of nuclear fuel does not require combustion air, avoiding thermal stack losses and related problems.
The demerits of conventional energy generation are:
1 Hydro plants depend for sustained operation on in-flow of water into the storage and this in-flow can be affected up stream by drought and outside the borders of this nation, by political or other considerations.
2 The pollution arising in the case of thermal stations from combustion of fuel is not environment-friendly due to the fact that sulphur oxides, heavy metals, radio-active elements, hydro carbons and large quantities of cabon dioxide are emitted which leads to acid rain.
3 Fossil and nuclear fuels are finite and non-renewable energy sources [4].
4 Burned nuclear fuel is radioactive, it requires remote handling and special processing and disposal of toxic waste.
5 Special system designs are required to prevent radioactivity release during normal operation or due to accidents.
6 Major portions of a nuclear plant are radioactive during and after operation, requiring special precautions and advanced technology for maintenance of much of the plant.
2.5 Wind Power in Nigeria
Nigeria is blessed with abundant fossil fuel (oil and gas) and the Government investment in power generation had been mainly restricted to thermal coal plants, gas plants and hydro power stations. Adegoke and Anjorin (1996) investigated the prospects of wind energy utilization in Nigeria by analyzing available wind data for Akure, Bauchi and Port Harcourt and observed that the average wind speed measured at 10metres height above the ground for Bauchi is 4.78m/s, Port Harcourt is 2.56m/s and that for Akure is 0.76m/s. It was concluded that Bauchi favours the installation of wind turbines more than Port Harcourt and Akure and that the variation of annual mean wind speed is much lower for Port Harcourt than it is for Bauchi implying that wind turbines installed in Port Harcourt would function more regularly over several years.
Wind speeds of not less than 2.22m/s have been found to be favourable for uses of windmills in northern Nigeria although this may strictly apply to the type of windmill tested. It has also been reported that most windmills would not start at wind speeds less than 3m/s (Ejieji, 2006).
The National Energy Commission of Nigeria (NECN) is presently leading Research and Development (R&D) efforts in developing indigenous technology in wind energy conversion systems.
2.6 Wind Power utilization today
The expected global shortage of oil and coal after World War II did not happen. Instead the prices of oil fell in the 1960’s. Energy consumption was increasing drastically as was the general growth and wealth in the industrialized countries. It therefore took a serious energy crisis before wind power once again was put back on the agenda.
This turn around came in October 1973, when Egyptian troops crossed the Suez Canal entering Sinai, which Israel had occupied during the 6-day war in 1967. A war in the Middle East had started and this time oil was used as a weapon in the conflict. Throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) had gradually gained more and more control of oil and it subsequently decided to raise oil prices and introduced an oil embargo on countries supporting Israel.
The resulting supply problems and rising prices not only caused downward market conditions in the Western world but also proved just how vulnerable and dependent these countries had become on the import of oil. Wind power was therefore soon back to reckoning.
2.7 The future of wind energy system
In the years to come, the prime resource for generation of wind power will not be wind but windy sites. With only limited sites suitable for wind power generation available, it makes better sense to develop technologies, which will increase the efficiency of wind electric generators.
The developments in turbine technology coupled with optimization techniques will lead to higher energy densities. Also it is expected that in future the power quality issues in grid interfacing wind electric generators will be addressed and power quality devices will be inbuilt into the turbines.
The global wind energy installed capacity has increased exponentially over a 25-year period, and in the process the cost of energy (COE) from wind power plants has been reduced by an order of magnitude. Wind energy installations in the United States have grown during the past decade from about 1800 MW in 1990 to more than 6,000 MW at the end of 2003(Musial et. al, 2004).
Offshore wind turbines have a number of advantages over onshore ones. The size of onshore turbines is constrained by capacity limitations of the available transportation and erection equipment. Transportation and erection problems are mitigated offshore where the size and lifting capacities of marine shipping and handling equipment still exceed the installation requirements for multi-megawatt wind turbines.
The visual appearance of massive turbines in populated areas may be undesirable. At a sufficient distance from the coast, visual intrusion is minimized and wind turbines can be larger, thus increasing the overall installed capacity per unit area. Similarly, less attention needs to be devoted to reduce turbine noise emissions offshore, which adds significant costs to onshore wind turbines. Also, the wind tends to blow faster and more uniformly at sea than on land. A higher, steadier wind means less wear on the turbine components and more electricity generated per square meter of swept rotor area can be integrated to the national grid.
Onshore turbines are often located in remote areas, where the electricity must be transmitted by relatively long power lines to densely populated regions, but offshore turbines can be located close to high-value urban load centers, simplifying transmission issues.
On the negative side of offshore development, investment costs are higher and accessibility is more difficult, resulting in higher capital and maintenance costs. Also, environmental conditions at sea are more severe: more corrosion ice.
And obviously, offshore construction is more complicated. Despite the difficulties of offshore development, it holds great promise for expanding wind generation capacity.
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND POTENTIALS IN NIGERIA
POWER IN THE WIND
The theoretical power in the wind is given by [7]-[14]
ρπ ( (1) where Pae is the aerodynamic power extracted from the airflow [Watt], ρ is the air density [typically 1.225Kg/m3]
Cp is the power coefficient which is the fraction of power in the wind captured by a wind turbine, which depends on the pitch angle θpitch [degree] and on the tip speed ratio, is given by
λ = (2) i.e it is the ratio between the blade tip speed *R and the equivalent wind speed Veq [m/s2],
R is the rotor radius; Cp is equal to 0.59 which means, the 59% of wind power is the maximum power that a wind turbine can utilize. Equation (1) shows that the power which a particular wind turbine can extract from wind is a cubic function of the wind speed.
Once the aerodynamic power is determined, the aerodynamic torque can be calculated directly according to
= = ρπ ( (3)
The mechanical input can be chosen as either the mechanical power or the mechanical torque, and then the other quantity can be calculated using equation 3 [15].
WIND ENERGY POTENTIALS IN NIGERIA
The technologies for harnessing wind energy have, over the years, been tried in the northern parts of the country, mainly for water pumping from open wells in many secondary schools of old Sokoto and Kano States as well as in Katsina, Bauchi and Plateau States.
Other areas of “potential application” of wind energy conversion systems in Nigeria are in Green electricity (which is the type of electricity produced from renewable source that is environmentally friendly and non-polluting) production for the rural community and for integration into the national grid system.
In 1998, a 5-kW wind electricity conversion system for village electrification has been installed at Sayyan Gidan Gada, in Sokoto State [16].
According to the report of Lahmeyer (International) Consultants [17], wind energy reserve in Nigeria at 10m (or 40m) height based on data analyzed for ten wind stations cutting across North West, North East, North Central, South East and South West geopolitical zones shows that some sites have wind regime between 1.0 and5.1m/s (1.0 and 6.3m/s) depending on the particular stations, and still confirms that Nigeria falls into the moderate wind regime.
Wind energy resources mapping for ten (10) sites in Nigeria including Sokoto collected from on ground measurement carried out between May 2004 and May 2005 also by Lahmeyer International. It can be seen from the table that the sites are potential wind farm areas. This is because most wind turbines start generating electricity at wind speeds of around 3-4 meters per second (m/s) [18].
It was reported that offshore areas from Lagos State through Ondo, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa to AkwaIbom states also have potentials for harvesting strong wind energy throughout the year.
Detailed wind speed measurements and data carried out in Nigeria in some hilly and coastal areas have shown an excellent wind potential for implementation of wind farms in those areas.
Table II below shows the wind energy density estimate at 25m height. It can also be seen from the table that Sokoto and Jos have the annual wind energy from wind turbine (kWh) of 97,035.94 and 94,559.98 respectively [19]. These figures are also in agreement with Ojosu and Salawu survey of wind energy potentials in Nigeria [20].
A number of authors [19] - [23] recommended base on the wind speeds that these potential wind farm areas should be connected to the grid (at Distribution level).
The Director General of Energy commission of Nigeria in a Paper presented at International Association for Energy Economics Third quarter 2009 [21] still lamented that these renewable Energy resources most especially wind have not been integrated to the Nigeria grid.
Table I. showing ranking of the wind speed at various measurement stations [17]. Site ID Site Name Measured mean wind speed at 30m Height (m/s)
Sok 01 Sokoto/Badaga 5.4
Jos 01 Jos Airport/ Kassa 5.2
Gem 01 Gembu/Mambila plateau 5.0
Pan 01 South part of Jos plateau/Pankshin Hotel 5.0
Kan 01 Kano/ Funtua 4.9
Mai 01 Maiduguri/mainok 4.7
Lag 01 Lagos/ Lekki Beach 4.7
Enu 01 Enugu/Nineth mile corner 4.6
Gum 01 Gumel/ Garki 4.1
Ibi 01 Ibi metrological station 3.6
3.2 METHOD
In an attempt to discover wind energy potential in the country, several sites (Enugu, Jos, Ikeja, Abuja, Warri, Sokoto and Calabar) which differ in natural conditions
and having different wind characteristics were selected for this study. Figures 1-7 show the wind speed graphs for various stations from 2000 to 2003.
3.3 RESULTS
From the graphs, it was discovered that the annual wind mean speed at a height of 10m above the ground ranges between 2.3m/s to 3.4m/s for sites along the costal areas and 3.0m/s to 3.9m/s for high land areas and semi-arid regions. The analysis carried out on the data shows that the monthly average wind power can be as high as 50.1W/m
2. Small wind energy conversion systems for pumping water, irrigation and small agricultural industries are recommended for small communities living in isolated areas around the selected sites. It was also discovered that the wind turbine can generate up to 97MWh per year in Sokoto, a site in a high wind speed regions [7]. Therefore, using wind energy conversion systems for electric power generation and supply in Nigeria—especially around the Sokoto axis will be cost effective. Similarly, after analysis of wind potential of a town near Jos, it was discovered that the maximum power intensity which could be extracted from the wind inthe area was found to be 14.23W/m2 out of the estimated available wind power intensity of 24.00W/m2 .The amount of energy density available in the wind has also been estimated to be 1126.28KWh/year. These results suggest that Heipany, a town in Jos, is an ideal location for construction of wind mills.
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
1. The use of wind power for the supply of electricity broadens the energy base and reduces environmental pollution. It is particularly practical if it can be made economically competitive with conventional energy sources [8].
2. The use of wind energy will be suitable for rural farming companies that require lighting and some limited supply of electricity which will be costly to get due to the location of farms [9].
3. Several researchers [10, 11] have shown that in areas with annual mean windspeeds of 3.5m/s-4.0m/s or greater, wind power systems can usually deliver electricityor pump water at costs lower than photovoltaics, diesels, or grid –extension.
4. Wind energy conversion systems (WECs) provide power source for unattended remote sensing stations, such as weather stations which periodically transmits metrological data.
5. In remote areas, where purchased electricity is simply unavailable, wind energy may well be the only alternative.
6. WECs enjoy flexibilities in implementation, lower life-cycle energy cost, reduced dependence on fuel supplies and the possibility of local production and support.
4.1. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
MERITS OF WIND POWER
By using metrological data collected from some selected weather stations in Nigeria, analysis of such data shows that wind power prospects in Nigeria is high. From the analysis also, it was clearly seen that costal and hilly areas are excellent sites for wind power development.
Therefore, using WECs for electric power generation and supply in Nigeria—especially around Sokoto axis with mean wind speed of about 3.78m/s, will be cost effective.
Considering the prospect of wind energy in a developing economy like Nigeria, the following recommendations are
made:
1. Excellent sites such as Jos and Sokoto should have a wind power plant for the generation of electricity which should be integrated with the existing national grid.
2. Wind energy resources should be included in the renewable energy resources development programme of Nigeria.
3. The Nation’s energy centres should be encouraged through funding in order to stimulate research efforts on WECs and manufacture.
4. Issues relating to energy should be handled by experts.
5. The government should set up independent policy makers on renewable energy, whose tasks will be to monitor the Nation’s energy centres as well as to encourage the Energy Commission of
Nigeria, ECN to embark on intensive human resource training on areas of need.
REFERENCES
[1] Fagbenle,R.L.: “Prospects and problems of solarizing transport technology”. Nigerian Journal of Renewable Energy, Vol. 2, No.1, 1991, pp. 79-84.
[2] Bergey,M.L.S.: “Small wind Turbines for rural energy supply in Developing Countries”, Journal of Renewable Energy for Agriculture and Health, 1999, pp. 1-6. [3] Okoro, O.I. and Madueme, T.C.: “Solar energy investments in a developing economy”,Renewable Energy 29, 2004, pp. 1599-1610.
[4] Davidson,I.E. and Oni, J.O.: “Energy conversion strategies and alternative sources for Africa”, Nigerian Journal of Renewable Energy, Vol. 2, No.1, 1991, pp. 85-90.
[5] Ojosu,J.O. and Salawu, R. I.: “Wind energy development in Nigeria”, Nigerian Journal of Solar Energy, Vol. 9, 1990, pp.209-222.
[6] Enibe, S.O.: “A method of Assessing the Wind Energy potentials in a Nigeria location”, Nigerian Journal of Solar Energy, Vol. 6, 1987, pp.14-17.
[7] Ezeugwu, D.U.: “Wind Energy prospects in a developing economy”, B.Eng. Thesis, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, September 2004.
8. Golding E.W (1976). The generation of electricity by wind power. E&F.N SPON Ltd, London.
[9. Anders A (April, 2005). “Aerolastic Simulation of Wind Turbine Dynamics”. Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Mechanics, Royal Institute of Technology, SE-10044 Stockholm Sweden.
10. Carlin P.W, Laxson A.S and Muljadi E.B (February 2001). “The History and State of Art of Variable-speed Wind Turbine Technology”. NREL/TP-500-28607.Technical Report.
11. Andersen, Per Dannemand. “Review of Historical and Modern Utilization of Wind Power”. Available at www.risoe.dk/rispubl/VEA/dannemand.html, accessed on 12th February 2007.
PRICINING DECISION AND CONTRIBUTION THEORY
PRICINING DECISION AND CONTRIBUTION THEORY
Product pricing enable organizations make appropriate pricing decision. It must be done with good product cost knowledge, otherwise it will not be done intelligently.
FACTOR AFFECTING PRODUCT PRICING
1. DEMAND FOR THE PRODUCT: The quantity for which the product is demended if known would go a long way to given an idea at which price they would be sold.
2. LEVEL OF ACTIVITY: The level of activity of the firm is also a determinant factor.
3. AVAILABILITY OF SUBSTITUTES: Here, when there exists a close substitute, the price of which product is fixed having in mind the existence of such substitute price.
4. CHANGES IN DEMAND AND SUPPLY: This means whether the demand for the product is elastic or inelastic.
METHOD OF COSTS USED BY COMPANY FOR PRICING
1. TOTAL COST METHOD: Under this method, selling price is based on the total costs. It is suitable for long term pricing as full cost are recovered and profit is maximized in the long run. It also tends to stabilize the price in the market
2. COVERSION COST METHOD: Is based on the basis that because materials do not earn any profit, profits should be related to the services performed. That is the value added in the form of conversion cost.
3. MARGINAL COST METHOD: The method here is flexible in its approach. It is mostly useful in the short-term period. Rising of prices lowers demands and the corresponding revenue.
4. DIFFERENT COST METHOD: This is the change in the costs which result from the adoption of an alternative course of action. Alternative action may arise due to change in volume price, product mix, or sales promotion, or refuse decision.
5. LEARNING CURVE METHOD: This method is another technique developed for the pricing of products in firms which undertake large and costly non-report orders which vary in size.
OBJECTIVES OF INTRA COMPANY TRANSFER PRICING
1. Current performance evaluation
2. To produce or buy
3. Improvement of profit position
4. Accurate estimate of earnings
5. Divisional autonomy
TOTAL COST PLUS A PERCENTAGE OF PROFIT METHOD
The method consists in adding a suitable specific percentage in profit to the cost of transfer. Let us assume, for example, that 4000 units of a product manufactured annually by a plant costing N800 are retransferred to another unit and that the rate of return on the capital is expected to be 20% per annum. If the cost of the units transferred be N5.00 each, the transfer price will be.
FORMULA
Transfer price=unit cost + capital employed x rate of return
Total unit produced.
Tp=N 5 + 8000 x 20
400units 100
= 5+2x0.2 = 5+0.4
= N 5.4
MARKET PRICE METHOD
This is a rational method which is based on the principle of opportunity cost market price, wherever, available may be adopted for pricing intra-company transfers. It consignor gets a fair reward and an incentive for efficient production. In this method no time is lost in bargaining and there no dispute about transfer prices.
DIFFICUTIES AND LIMITATION OF MARKET PRICE METHOD
1. It is difficult in obtaining market price
2. It market price consist of elements of selling and distribution expenses such as commission, bad debt and ware house cost.
3. It adjustment in choosing stock is required to be made for the profit included.
BALANCE PRICE METHOD
Here the transfer price is negotiated between the consignor and consignee departments, as if the two were independent undertaking trying to make the best of the bargain. In theis method the managers feel recognized in the scheme of affairs and hence are method towards putting in their best.
LIMITATIONS ON THE BARGAINED PRICE METHOD.
1. Non-availability of suitable price quotations from outside source.
2. Quotations may not be reliable.
3. The transfer price is dependent not only on the productive ability but also on the negotiating ability of the departmental manager.
ACCOUNTING FOR INTER-PROCESS PROFIT
When inter-process profit is included in the account, it is advisable to have three columns in the ledger to indicate the cost, profit and the total.
This facilitates the calculation of the profit to be provided for inclusion in closing stock in each process and in the final finished stock. Therefore inclusion of inter-process profit creates unnecessary complications in the accounts. As the internal profit remains merged in process stock, work in progress, and finished good, suitable adjustment is made in the balance sheet in order to include such unrealized profit.
INCLUSION
This chapter has examined product pricing decision which may for external products or internal, or intra company uses. It also involves a lot of decision areas since it is a major determinant of the success or otherwise the companies. These is need to paint staking go through it.
CAUSES OF CORRUPTION
CAUSES OF CORRUPTION
Corruption is caused generally by greed, lack of positive values, porous system, weak enforcement and oversight mechanisms, excessive materialism, societal pressure, lack of virile welfare structures, insecurity of employment tenure, indiscipline, Inordinate desire for wealth accumulation (get-rich-quick-syndrome), poverty of the mind, nepotism (partiality, favoritism, preferential treatment, bias, discrimination etc), and lack of genuine fear of God. These and many more will be discussed in subsequent editions in detail.
EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION
Effects of corruption to the nation in general, to the port system in particular and to us as a people is colossal; for example:
• It undermines the national image- a corruption ridden country stinks in the comity of nations and meaningful investments cannot be attracted nor developmental cooperation can be established because every Nigerian is viewed as corrupt and dubious outside. For instance, Nigeria has been consistently ranked among the most corrupt country in the world by Transparency International.
• It threatens the very survival of a nation as it prevents the provision of basic social amenities for the citizenry. The money meant for development is often pocketed by a few thereby making good governance impossible. It has affected our health sectors not to talk of our educational institutions. As at today, not even one of the Universities in Nigeria is rated among the first 200 in the world and none is rated among the best in Africa. Corruption generally erodes standards to abysmal levels. Quality of goods and services cannot be guaranteed in a corrupt society.
• Corruption aggravate unemployment and under development.
• It engenders mass poverty and thwart efforts to overcome it.
• Most infrastructural decay and unsatisfactory provision of amenities can be traced directly or indirectly to corruption. There is a total collapse of power and road net work in the country today due to corrupt attitude of past leaders.
• It erodes the ethical base of society: -as due diligence, excellence, honesty, merit and integrity are discouraged.
• It breeds all kinds of crimes and vandalism – arm robbery, kidnapping, youth agitation etc.
• It lead to massive brain drain – a great number of Nigeria best brains have been driven to other part of the world where they now spearhead developmental and scientific exploits.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)