Middle Belt Region Of Nigeria Research Articles

Melıssopalynologıcal study of Apıs Mellıfera L. honey sourced from dıfferent localıtıes in the mıddle belt of Nıgerıa

Melissopalynological studies are useful to determine the floral contents and geographical origin of honey samples. The great diversity of plants allows bees to produce honey that is highly valuable to the consumers. This study was aimed to determine pollen types in honey samples collected from the Middle Belt region to provide information on botanical origin of honeys. Six honey samples were collected from Benue and Kogi States in North Central, Nigeria. According to their pollen spectra, they were multiflora honeys. The honey samples collected from Benue State had a total pollen count of 8, 932, thirty nine pollen types in twenty five (25) families of plant and samples from Kogi State recorded 3,859 pollen, 29 pollen types in nineteen 19 plant families. A total of thirteen pollen types were identified to generic level, fifteen to species and nine to family level in honey samples collected from Benue State whereas in Kogi State samples, eleven pollen types were identified to generic level, eight to species and nine to family level. The major pollen types in Benue honey samples were Sarcocephalus latifolius, Phyllanthus sp., Lannea sp., Hymenocardia acida, Syzygium guineense, Solanum sp., Parkia biglobosa, members of Anacardiaceae, Combretaceae/Melastomataceae, Euphorbiaceae and Sapindaceae whereas Hymenocardia acida, Elaeis guineensis, Solanum sp., Cassia sp., Sarcocephalus latifolius, members of Combretaeaeceae/Melastomataceae and Fabaceae were dominant in samples from Kogi State. The pollen analyses provided important information on the floral source preferences of bees and on honey contents, which can be used by traditional beekeepers and the public in general in promoting the production and consumption of high quality honey in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria.

Lassa fever in pregnancy: Report of two maternal deaths in a tertiary center in the middle-belt region of Nigeria.

Lassa fever is endemic in West Africa, with an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 infections occurring annually and approximately 5,000 deaths. Two Lassa fever cases in pregnancy with maternal and fetal complications were presented. The age range was 20 to 30 years and the range of parity was 1 to 3. The duration of symptoms was 13 to 14 days. Clinical presentation and complications common to the two cases were fever, abnormal bleeding, cough/sore throat, anaemia, IUFD/Stillbirth, and maternal deaths. Others are vomiting, restlessness/confusion, hypotension and thrombocytopaenia. Major challenges encountered are late presentation, delay in confirming diagnosis and instituting definitive treatment, limited facility, and the impact of traditional and religious factors in safe burial for Lassa fever cases. In resource-constrained settings; diagnosis, treatment and surveillance for Lassa fever may be challenging. Early clinical suspicion and appropriate case management are critical for good reproductive outcome.

Swem: The Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Tiv of Central Nigeria

The Tiv are a major ethnic group in the Middle Belt Region of Nigeria. Scholarly writings about the Tiv usually make mention of Swem as either the ‘ancestral home’ of the Tiv, or an ‘Oath of justice’ sworn by the Tiv people to prove innocence and cleanse the land to avert calamities. To this end, ‘Swem’ stands as a tangible and intangible heritage of the Tiv. This paper examines the nexus between the Tiv and the Swem, and its impact on the culture and traditions of the Tiv people. Data for this research was elicited from primary sources such as oral traditions, and ethnographic survey. Secondary sources such as published books, journals, and monographs were also used in this study. Today, though the Swem tradition is significant in the cultural history of the Tiv people, it is fast going into extinction. Thus, this paper becomes timely and most appropriate for the documentation of the Swem tradition, being part of the cultural heritage of the Tiv people. This documentation will enable a scholarly preservation of the tradition for posterity.

Socio-Demographic and Obstetric Profile of Women Who Presented for Obstetric Fistula Repair in the Middle Belt Region of Nigeria

Socio-Demographic and Obstetric Profile of Women Who Presented for Obstetric Fistula Repair in the Middle Belt Region of Nigeria

FARMING ANXIETY AS A PREDICTOR OF FARMERS INTENTION IN THE ERA OF FARMING INSECURITIES

Over the years, Nigeria and other African countries have witnessed an increasing rate of insecurities that cuts across all aspects of society. The growing trend of farmer-herdsmen conflict, banditry, and kidnapping that characterizes the contemporary farming sector is undoubtedly affecting the socio-economic growth and food production in the country. There is a growing concern about farmers motivation and willingness to access their farmlands in this era of constant insecurity. The present study aimed to examine farming anxiety as a psychological construct that could account for the variation in farming intention among the farmers. The study was conducted in the middle-belt region of Nigeria, and four hundred and thirteen farmers drawn from some volatile communities in Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa state participated in the study. The respondents completed self-report measures of farming anxiety and intention. The regression analysis performed on the data revealed a positive interaction between the independent and dependent variables. Thus, the study concluded that farming anxiety is a significant predictor of farming intention.

Fulani herdsmen/farmers conflict and the challenges of food security in the middle belt region of Nigeria

The agriculture sector, the backbone of an economy, provides the basic ingredients to mankind and raw material for industrialization. It plays a strategic role in the process of economic development and growth. Leading industrialized countries of today were once predominantly agricultural economies and still dominate in agriculture. The agricultural sector contributes a major proportion of the national income and caters to a large workforce segment. However, one of the biggest security challenges in Nigeria lately is the expanding clashes between farmers and herders. Today, the conflict has spread over several regions in Nigeria and the Middle-Belt-Region specifically. It is against this foundation that this research is carried out to inspect how conflicts between farmers and herders influence food production, food accessibility, food stability, and food usage in the Middle Belt. The study is based on selected secondary sources and findings from the field research conducted in the Middle Belt region such as Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi, Nasarawa, etc. The qualitative research techniques involved in-depth interviews with local people and direct observation. This study observes that the food insecurity in this region is driven by the constant clash between the farmers and herdsmen, which have inflicted fear of going to cultivate their farmland in the lives of these rural farmers, consequently leading to shortages in food production in the region.

Proximate, Mineral and Phenol Content of Dioscorea Rotundata Var. Amula, Dioscorea Cayenensis Var. Igangan-Alo from Farmers’ Plots and Bounty-Fertilized, Infected with Botryodiplodia Theobromae Pat.

Fertilizer effects on infection and weight loss by Botryodiplodia theobromae Pat, was determined in white guinea yam Dioscorea rotundata variety Amula from the middle belt-region of Nigeria, and yellow guinea yam D. cayenensis variety Igangan/Alo from South West Nigeria. Tubers of both varieties were sourced from farmers’ plots from within Ogun State ( South West Nigeria) where they had been planted on three or more years previously fallowed plots, and harvested at six months after planting. Another lot of tubers of both varieties were sourced from a yam project plot at the Teaching and Research farms of the Directorate of University Farms (DUFARMS), Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB) Abeokuta, where they had been fertilized at the rate of 0.60 ml l-1 of Bounty fertilizer, an 8-mineral component fertilizer, and harvested also at six months after planting. Tubers of both varieties from farmers’ plots were analysed for proximate content (dry matter, moisture, ash, fat, crude protein, crude fibre and carbohydrate) phenol content and ten minerals namely Ca, N, P, K, Mg, Fe, Mn, S, Zn and B. Another set of tubers of the two varieties from farmers plots, as well as those from the Bounty-fertilized yam project plot, were inoculated with Botryodiplodia theobromae in an infection and weight loss experiment. The infection and weight loss experiment was a 2 by 2 factorial arranged in RCBD (randomized complete block design) with 4 treatment combinations and 5 replications. Tubers of both varieties from both sources inoculated with a 7-day old pure culture of B. theobromae were the four treatment combinations. Incubation period was 3 weeks. Infection in Amula (white guinea yam) was over 2500% higher than in the yellow guinea yam, Igangan. Phenol (107.89 mg/100 gdm) and calcium (16.85 mg/100 gdm) were higher in Igangan than in Amula (89.04 and 16.70 mg/100gdm respectively), and is adduced as the reason for the high infection in variety Amula. Weight loss however was 154% higher in Igangan than in Amula. Crude fibre had a negative significant correlation with weight loss (r = -0.9285, P=0.001), and crude fibre with the value 4.49% dm was higher in variety Amula than in variety Igangan (4.02%dm). This is responsible for the higher weight loss in var. Igangan. Phenol content also had a significant negative correlation with weight loss (r = -0.9586, P = 0.05), suggesting that the effect of high crude fibre in reducing weight loss outweighs that of phenol in reducing weight loss. There was high reduction of infection in the Bounty-fertilized tubers, 3.72% compared to farmers’ plot tubers which had 27.22%. Weight loss was also 0% in Bounty-fertilized tubers compared to a high 63.54% in the tubers from farmers’ plots. This indicates that the 8-mineral component fertilizer, Bounty will prolong shelf life in the white and yellow guinea yams Amula and Igangan. Five minerals namely Mg, K, Zn, Mn and B had significant correlation with weight loss (r = 0.9461, 0.9802, 0.9214, 0.9898 and 0.9122) respectively. Three of these minerals namely Zn, Mn and B content were all low with mean values of 0.25, 0.44 and 0.07 mg/100gdm respectively but Mg and K were relatively higher with mean values of 21.59 and 806.67mg/100gdm respectively. This suggests that mineral nutrition to enhance prolonged shelf life in D. rotundata var. Amula and D. cayanensis var. Igangan may be established with a balance of Mg, Zn, Mn and B in lower proportions than K, as potassium is essential in optimum yield in Dioscorea species.

PEER INFLUENCE AND SELF ESTEEM AS PREDICTORS OF SELF-MEDICATION AMONG THE YOUTH IN THE MIDDLE BELT REGION OF NIGERIA

Over the years, individuals have been visiting the drug stores intending to treat their respective illnesses without expert consultation. Self-medication has been defined as self-prescription and self-administration of drugs by an individual without consulting a medical expert. It is a public health concern. Research has established several predictor variables in self-medication. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the predictive role of peer influence and self-esteem on self-medication practice among the youth in the middle-belt region of Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was adopted. Two hundred and sixteen youth pooled from four large public health institutions in Kogi and Benue State participated in the study. The participant completed a self-report measure,and a multiple regression model was used to test the hypothesis. The result showed that peerinfluence statistically significantly predicted self-medication practice, while self-esteem did not. The study recommends a robust anti-self-medication campaign.

Uloga religije i njen uticaj na sukobe u Nigeriji

At the very end of colonial rule, UK established Islam and Christianity in Nigeria as the two dominant religions with the middle belt region of Nigeria as the battle ground. Before their final departure, they secured and formed several ethnic and religious lines, which in the postcolonial era were used by political elites as a way to fight for state power. As such, on the basis of the abuse of political and religious elites, and on the basis of ethnic, religious and regional divisions, a deeply fragmented Nigeria as we know it today emerged. With colonial domination, sudden transitions, the power of society was destroyed to such an extent that it became incapable of regulating human passion. The situation is further heated by leading elites who manipulate religious identity, where as a result appears that the north of Nigeria, mostly Muslim, tends to Islamize the whole Nigeria, and the south, mostly Christian, strives to defend Christianity and the constitutional secularism of the state. In such a situation, religion, instead of calming passions and tensions, thanks to its leaders, opens the way to conflict, violence, extremism, and, finally, terrorism. The central understanding of the formation of the identity of religion and its transformation from conflict to violence is the rise of religious extremism throughout the country. Extremist groups show significant intolerance towards members of their own and other religions, react to social, economic and political crises of Nigerian politics, of course in religious terms, which later leads to conflicts. The integration of religion into Nigerian politics, which we can thank the colonial rulers, is one of the leading problems and it is precisely this that stands behind religious violence and political instability in the country.

Rural Women Participation in Small Ruminant Enterprise in the Middle Belt Region of Nigeria

Rural Women Participation in Small Ruminant Enterprise in the Middle Belt Region of Nigeria

LEXICAL BORROWING AND LANGUAGE ENDANGERMENT: A CASE OF THE TIV LANGUAGE

Language gives identity to a people and makes them a speech community, thereby defining their culture. It is their means of initiating and propagating development; it therefore means that without language that is peculiar to a people, it becomes difficult for them to forge ahead with the development of their society. However, because language communities co-exist and their strengths and numbers are not equal, some languages that are stronger than others begin to dominate them when they come into contact or co-exist. This dominance could gradually lead to language endangerment and possibly extinction of the weaker language. This is the case betweenthe Hausa language and the Tiv language in the middle belt region of Nigeria, where Tiv language speakers tend to borrow lexical items from the Hausa language. The current study involved oral interviews with adult native speakers of the Tiv language, as well as reviewed reports, journal articles and books written on the subject matter under study. The study explored the extent of lexical borrowing by the Tiv language from the Hausa language and discovered that the Tiv language has borrowed lexical items significantly from the Hausa language. The borrowing is based on the fact that the Tiv language has no lexical equivalents of the borrowed words in its lexicon, or that the speakers of Tiv language have over time adopted such Hausa words because of their knowledge of Hausa language. The danger here is that borrowed lexical items from Hausa have come to replace some Tiv words, making them to gradually go extinct, thereby endangering the Tiv language. The study concludes that the trend of Hausa words gradually replacing Tiv words is worrisome, and calls for intensified studies to ensure that the Tiv language is protected from domination by the Hausa language, to prevent extinction of the language in the future.

Relationship between Rainfall, Surface Runoff and Soil Loss on an Experimental Farm in the Middle Belt of Nigeria

Rainfall induced depletion of soil nutrients resulting from runoff and soil erosion are a main threat for agricultural lands, tending to reducing soil fertility, soil productivity and eventually leading to the un-sustainability of agricultural production systems. It is based on the problems associated with soil loss that the required mulch type, mulch cover and slope of the farming field need to be properly investigated and determined. This research therefore analyzed surface runoff and soil loss under different mulch treatment at a farm site in Benue State, in the middle-belt region of Nigeria. The main aim is to analyze the effect of varied mulching will have on runoff and soil loss volumes resulting from rainfall and examine the implication of the results on soil management practice in the region. Experimental plots of 20m long by 3m wide were carved out with an outlet down slope of 1.5m2 (20m×3m+1.5m2 = 61.5m2 ) were bordered with corrugated iron sheets and inserted with runoff and soil loss receptors. The experimental plots were treated with weighted organic materials (mulching, in tons) and planted with maize with plots of zero (0) tons as control (T1). The maize planted was spaced 25cm on row and 75cm on columns. The experimental plots were replicated and symbolized as (T1) = bare surface (0 tons A, B and C), (T2) = surface mulch +maize (4 tons A, B and C) and (T3)= surface mulch + maize (8 tons A, B and C). Rainfall data was collected over ten (10) rain events and runoff and soil loss measurements was analyzed with using correlation statistics, variability and regression. The results show that 96.14% runoff occurs on T1, 3.22% and 0.63% runs off on the T2 and T3 respectively with corresponding 193.7kg, 3.1kg and 0.5kg soil loss. The study finds out that mulching reduces simultaneously both runoff and soil loss in the region. The amount rainfall only has no significant effect on amount of runoff and volume of soil loss. The study revealed that, surface cover combined with simple cropping controls runoff and soil loss by 67% and 61% respectively. This will be useful to farmers in addition to the fact that mulching also has a collateral benefit of stimulating microbial activities and regulating soil moisture and temperature.

A Markov Chain Analysis of Wet and Dry Spell for Agricultural Crop Planning in the Middle Belt Region of Nigeria

A Markov Chain Analysis of Wet and Dry Spell for Agricultural Crop Planning in the Middle Belt Region of Nigeria

Lung cancer awareness and anticipated delay before seeking medical help in the middle-belt population of Nigeria.

Ilorin metropolis in the middle-belt region of Nigeria. To determine the awareness about warning signs and risk factors for lung cancer and the anticipated delay before seeking medical care in the middle-belt population of Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study performed among 1125 adults. Lung cancer awareness measure (Lung CAM) was administered face to face by trained interviewers. The respondents' Lung CAM score was low for warning signs and risk factors for lung cancer. Apart from tobacco smoking (69.9%) and air pollution (56.4%), other risk factors were poorly recognised by respondents. Higher education and income and having a relative or friends who had previously had lung cancer were significantly associated with awareness about warning signs and risk factors. The majority (66.8%) would seek help before 2 weeks if they noticed a warning sign. Anticipated delay was associated with non-recognition of any warning sign (OR 3.09, 95%CI 2.26-4.22), lower education (OR 1.90, 95%CI 1.40-2.57), lower income (OR 1.86, 95%CI 1.26-2.75) and males (OR 1.50, 95%CI 1.15-1.97). The awareness of lung cancer warning signs and risk factors are not satisfactory in Nigeria. There is a need to increase awareness about the condition to prevent delays in seeking medical help.

Antioxidant potential of phenolic-rich two varieties of Nigerian local rice and their anti-cholinesterase activities afterin vitrodigestion

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to focus on the antioxidant properties of two phenolic-rich varieties of Nigerian local rice and their anti-cholinesterase potential afterin vitro-simulated gastrointestinal digestion, with the aim of establishing their actual antioxidant and nutraceutical potential after their passage through the gastrointestinal tract upon consumption.Design/methodology/approach– Two local rice varieties, commonly referred to as “Gboko” and “Ofada” rice commonly grown in Benue State, a middle belt region of Nigeria and south western regions of Nigeria, respectively, were locally processed. Each of the processed grains were divided into two portions; one portion was left uncooked, while the second portion was boiled conventionally as eaten, dried and subsequently milled into powder. The milled samples of the raw and boiled rice were treated with acidified methanol to obtain the methanol extracts; another portion of each samples was subjected toin vitroenzyme digestion using standard methods to mimic human digestion; and the third portion was treated using the same scheme ofin vitrodigestion without the sets of enzyme which was used to serve as a control for enzyme treatment. The quali-quantitative phenolic profiles of the two local varieties were carried out with the aid of high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) method. The antioxidant potential and anti-cholinesterase action of the methanolic extracts, the simulatedin vitrodigested model and the enzyme-treated controls of the rice samples were determined using standard methods and data obtained were subjected to ANOVA; the differences of means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT).Findings– The quali-quantitative assessment of phenolic compounds in the two studied local varieties revealed the presence of some phenolic acids and flavonoids, with a decreased level of most of the identified phenolic compounds after boiling.In vitroenzyme-digested rice for both raw and boiled rice samples showed significantly higher total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, ferric-reducing antioxidant power, 2, 2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS+) scavenging and NO− inhibitory activities than the aqueous-methanolic extracts and the enzyme-treated controls. The aqueous-methanolic extracts displayed a higher 1, 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhdrazyl radical scavenging activity and inhibited Fe2+-induced lipid oxidation in rat’s brain and liver homogenate than that displayed by thein vitroenzyme-digested samples.In vitroenzyme-digested and boiled “Gboko” and “Ofada” rice and raw “Ofada” rice have the potential of inhibiting acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity. While methanolic extracts of raw and boiled “Ofada” and “Gboko” rice exhibited the potential to inhibit butrylcholinesterase activity. The result of this paper indicates that the selected rice varieties possess antioxidant capacities which are better released after the simulatedin vitroenzyme digestion; the result also showed the anti-cholinesterase potential of the studied rice grains and, therefore, they can be considered as nutraceutical health supplements.Originality/value– The paper has demonstrated the antioxidant potentials of the phenolic-containing two Nigerian local rice varieties and established their anti-cholinesterase potential after simulatedin vitroenzyme digestion.

Leadership Influence on Ethno - Religious Conflicts in the Middlebelt Region of Nigeria

Conflicts that are traceable to ethnic prisms and religious considerations constitute unceasing axial variables in the existence and prosecution of most intergroup conflicts in Nigeria. This paper is on the interface between leadership influence and the incidence of ethno-religious conflicts in parts of Nigeria. It examines and explains the potency or role of ethno-religious leaders’ verbal and non-verbal communications in intergroup conflicts that boarder on ethnicity and religion. While using the Middlebelt geo-political region of Nigeria as a case, the paper relies largely on general analytic and case study techniques in the interrogation of the problematic. In line with the objectives, the paper hypothesizes that on account of particularistic considerations ethno-religious leaders exert significant influence on ethno-religious conflicts in the region. The key findings of the paper underline the potency of ethno-religious leaders’ verbal and non-verbal communications in intergroup conflicts that boarder on ethnicity and religion as well as the fact that ethno-religious leaders exercise enormous authority and influence on the people. In the main, the paper recommends the convocation of town-hall forums at various levels, and the participation of broad spectra of persons including ethnic and religious leaders to, in the context of the social reality, deliberate and come up with consensus on various conflictive facets.

A case of congenital left brachium agenesis (amelia, brachiomelia monobrachium) in Sahel goat ecotype.

This rare case of amelia in a doe-goat was observed in Tarka local government area, Benue State, middle belt region of Nigeria. The congenital deformity consisted of complete agenesis of the affected fore limb; the defect is commonly unilaterally manifested. The present congenitally impaired goat was approximately one and a half years old, and was a second kiddling of a normal multiparous dam. The left fore limb was grossly vestigial in development, while the homologous right hoof was splayed; the hind limbs were anatomically normal. Radiographs revealed morphological aberrations in intergumentary, skeletal, vascular, nervous systems and musculature of the affected limb. Sahel goat is alien to this developmental syndrome and this is to the best of our knowledge--the first case report of left sided brachial agenesia, (amelia) in a doe-goat of this breed. By season of occurrence, the hypothesis of interplay between genetics, climate and environment at large in the pathogenesis of this hereditary anomaly is raised and supported by the abundance of phytoteratogens in alternative diets in the dry seasons. The condition is compatible with life but may contribute to reproductive and economic loss in farms.

Proximate and Mineral Analysis of Some Wild Leafy Vegetables Common in Benue State, Middle Belt-nigeria

The proximate analysis and mineral composition of some commonly grown and consumed leafy vegetables in the middle belt region of Nigeria were studied to determine their nutritional content. They include Ficus thonningii, Annona senegalensis, Emilia coccinea and Hibiscus sabdariffa. The proximate analyses revealed the following range of result in the fresh sample; Moisture(62.32 -93.38%),Crude Fat( 0.05-0.71%), Crude Fibre (1.30-20.15%), Ash(1.06-2.37%), Crude Protein(0.03-0.33%),Carbohydrate (4.16 -15.12%)and Energy value (17.21 to 67.02 kJ/100g) while that for dried samples were Moisture(11.33-28.58%),Crude Fat(0.57-3.43%), Crude Fibre (10.51-36.86%),Ash(4.70-12.77%), Crude Protein(0.28-1.53%),Carbohydrate (33.11-62.11%) and Energy value(120.57 to 345.7 kJ/100g). There was no significant difference between the nutrient and mineral content of the studied vegetables. The wild vegetables contain appreciable amount of essential nutrient molecules and mineral elements needed for the maintenance of good nutritional status and thus can compete favourably with commonly consumed vegetables.

Prevalence of stroke in three semi-urban communities in middle-belt region of Nigeria: a door to door survey.

IntroductionThe burden of stroke has been projected to increase for developing countries, but data are limited, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This necessitated this study to determine the stroke prevalence in a semi urban community in middle-belt region of Nigeria.MethodsA two-phase door-to-door study was performed in three semi-urban communities of Kwara state; in the first phase 12,992 residents were screened and probable stroke cases were identified by trained health care workers. In the second phase individuals adjudged to be positive for stroke were screened with a stroke-specific questionnaire and made to undergo a complete neurological examination by a neurologist. Stroke diagnosis was based on clinical evaluation using WHO criteria.ResultsOut of the numbers that were screened, 18 probable stroke cases were identified in the first stage, and of these, 17 fulfilled WHO criteria for stroke, giving a crude prevalence rate of 1.31/1000 population. The prevalence of stroke was higher among the males than the females (1.54/1000 vs. 1.08/1000) with a ratio 1.4: 1. Sixteen subjects (94.1%) had one or more risk factors for stroke. Uncontrolled systemic hypertension (82.4%) was the commonest risk factors for stroke followed by transient ischaemic attack (TIA) (41.2%).ConclusionStroke is a condition that is prevalent in our environment; especially in older adults and men. Uncontrolled systemic hypertension and previous transient ischaemic attacks were the commonest risk factors for stroke in our community.

Primary Care Patients’ Internet Use in a Part of Middle-belt Region of Nigeria

Primary Care Patients’ Internet Use in a Part of Middle-belt Region of Nigeria