Users In Nigeria Research Articles

Happiness and surprise are associated with worse truth discernment of COVID-19 headlines among social media users in Nigeria

Do emotions we experience after reading headlines help us discern true from false information or cloud our judgement? Understanding whether emotions are associated with distinguishing truth from fiction and sharing information has implications for interventions designed to curb the spread of misinformation. Among 1,341 Facebook users in Nigeria, we find that emotions—specifically happiness and surprise—are associated with greater belief in and sharing of false, relative to true, COVID-19 headlines. Respondents who are older are more reflective, and do not support the ruling party are better at discerning true from false COVID-19 information.

Predicting COVID-19 health behaviour initiation, consistency, interruptions and discontinuation among social media users in Nigeria.

SummaryLiterature on the predictors of health behaviour initiation, interruption, consistency and discontinuation is scarce. This study sought to fill this gap by suggesting a model that takes into account these variables. Using the structural equation modelling, we surveyed 470 social media users in Nigeria and found that perceived vulnerability, perceived seriousness; benefits to action, self-efficacy and cues to action significantly predict health behaviour initiation. Also, the predictors of health interruption were found to be perceived vulnerability, perceived seriousness, benefits to action, challenges to action and perceived realness. The predictors of health behaviour consistency were found to be perceived vulnerability, perceived seriousness, benefits to action, perceived realness, self-efficacy and cues to action. Finally, the predictors of health behaviour discontinuation were found to be perceived vulnerability, perceived seriousness, perception on realness, behaviour fatigue and behaviour discomfort. We explored the implication of these results on health promotion and made suggestions for further studies.

Social media affordances and information abundance: Enabling fake news sharing during the COVID-19 health crisis.

This study modelled factors that predict fake news sharing during the COVID-19 health crisis using the perspective of the affordance and cognitive load theory. Data were drawn from 385 social media users in Nigeria, and Partial Least Squares (PLS) was used to analyse the data. We found that news-find-me perception, information overload, trust in online information, status seeking, self-expression and information sharing predicted fake news sharing related to COVID-19 pandemic among social media users in Nigeria. Greater effects of news-find-me perception and information overload were found on fake news sharing behaviour as compared to trust in online information, status seeking, self-expression and information sharing. Theoretically, our study enriches the current literature by focusing on the affordances of social media and the abundance of online information in predicting fake news sharing behaviour among social media users, especially in Nigeria. Practically, we suggest intervention strategies which nudge people to be sceptical of the information they come across on social media.

Empirical Evidence of Socially-Engineered Attack Menace Among Undergraduate Smartphone Users in Selected Universities in Nigeria

Smartphone proliferation today, have up-scaled user adoption of Internet-based processing activities. These include (not limited to) e-learning, e-commerce, mobile-banking and others –all aimed at better performance, service delivery at improved execution speed, greater portability, flexibility and accessibility ease. Thus, necessitating growth expansion in mobile-app development across varying platforms that are poised to help users accomplish processing tasks while harnessing the benefits of the technology. Conversely, these techs have also allowed users to be constantly besieged by threats and security breaches. In lieu of residence, sensitive and proprietary –users have become bothered with smartphone exposure to possible data loss and theft –if they are to further adopt these new paradigms. With doubt in their minds, trust levels in user adoption continues to reduce. We seek to investigate social-engineered threats and attacks amongst undergraduates in Nigerian Universities. Result shows that phishing hits a higher successrate against smartphone users in Nigeria, which has decreased client’s trust level in Internet-based services

Misinformation about COVID-19 among internet users in Nigeria: Tools to effective public awareness, prevention and control

Since the World Health Organization announced in early 2020 that the COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by an infodemic of misinformation, we are left with the question of public perspective-driven compliance to safety measures. This preliminary study evaluated some claims about COVID-19 including vaccine conspiracy theories among Nigerians with factors influencing it. An online structured questionnaire was designed to collect one-time data from voluntary participants. Demographically, major respondents were; bachelor: 284 (75.1%), age-group between 18 and 30 years: 312 (82.5%) and male: 207 (54.8%). Those that do not know the range of infected population in the country accounted for 260 (72.2%). In opinion, 57 (15.1%) supported that SARS-COV-2 cannot survive the warm climate of African continent, and 41 (10.8%) believed the hoax theory about COVID-19. Unapproved herbal medication was reported to be used by 251 (66.4%) of the respondents while 92 (24.3%) made use of Chloroquine. For transmission related conceptions, 52 (13.8%) indicated that an asymptomatic carrier cannot spread the virus to another healthy individual. About half of the respondents 182 (48.1%) suspected that SARS-COV-2 was an engineered virus and 173 (45.8%) supported that there are underlying negative intentions on the clinical trial of COVID-19 vaccines on Africans. There is a weak correlation between the demographic data of the respondents and the claims. The level of misconception Nigerians have about COVID-19 is a major concern. Thus, it is imperative to continuously engage in community awareness and education using proven facts about the virus, and its available prophylaxis measures in order to avoid the dangers that are associated with the prevailing misconceptions.
 Keywords: Misinformation, Vaccine conspiracy, COVID-19, Compliance

Misinformation about COVID-19 among internet users in Nigeria: Tools to effective public awareness, prevention and control

Since the World Health Organization announced in early 2020 that the COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by an infodemic of misinformation, we are left with the question of public perspective-driven compliance to safety measures. This preliminary study evaluated some claims about COVID-19 including vaccine conspiracy theories among Nigerians with factors influencing it. An online structured questionnaire was designed to collect one-time data from voluntary participants. Demographically, major respondents were; bachelor: 284 (75.1%), age-group between 18 and 30 years: 312 (82.5%) and male: 207 (54.8%). Those that do not know the range of infected population in the country accounted for 260 (72.2%). In opinion, 57 (15.1%) supported that SARS-COV-2 cannot survive the warm climate of African continent, and 41 (10.8%) believed the hoax theory about COVID-19. Unapproved herbal medication was reported to be used by 251 (66.4%) of the respondents while 92 (24.3%) made use of Chloroquine. For transmission related conceptions, 52 (13.8%) indicated that an asymptomatic carrier cannot spread the virus to another healthy individual. About half of the respondents 182 (48.1%) suspected that SARS-COV-2 was an engineered virus and 173 (45.8%) supported that there are underlying negative intentions on the clinical trial of COVID-19 vaccines on Africans. There is a weak correlation between the demographic data of the respondents and the claims. The level of misconception Nigerians have about COVID-19 is a major concern. Thus, it is imperative to continuously engage in community awareness and education using proven facts about the virus, and its available prophylaxis measures in order to avoid the dangers that are associated with the prevailing misconceptions.
 Keywords: Misinformation, Vaccine conspiracy, COVID-19, Compliance

Communicating COVID-19 Pandemic on Facebook: Illustrations from Users’ Screenshots from Nigeria and Bangladesh

The outbreak of COVID-19 has dented the global public health profile. On the one side, the ubiquity of social media has led to damaging misinformation, fake news, stigmatization, and conspiracy theories. Fortunately, on the other side, the advantageous characteristics of social media and the informational support mechanisms with which they produce social safety valves; are a solid basis to curbing the pandemic. This paper examines the use of social media as a valuable platform to publicly communicate the COVID-19, especially its scientific discourses. This paper focuses on Facebook as a platform amenable to the strategic digital communication of COVID-19. It takes illustrations from screenshots of Facebook users in Nigeria and Bangladesh. Some of the identified strategies include supporting for preventive measures, focusing on solutions, countering fake information, standing against racism and stigmatization, relying on scientific facts, confronting conspiracy theories, dealing with pseudoscience and denials, explaining statistics meaningfully, avoiding the temptation to trivialize and sensationalize, and using local languages.

The moderating role of colour in modelling the effectiveness of COVID-19 YouTube animated cartoons on the health behaviour of social media users in Nigeria.

Previous studies on the effect of cartoon hardly consider the moderating role of colour. Additionally, studies on the use of social media for health promotion pay less attention to sustainability of health behaviour. In this study, we examined the moderating role of colour on the effectiveness of COVID-19 YouTube animated cartoons on health behaviour of social media users in Nigeria. We survey a total of 470 social media users in Nigeria who reported exposure to YouTube COVID-19 animated cartoons. It was found that colour significantly predict recall of YouTube animated cartoons on COVID-19. In addition, the result of the study revealed that colour significantly moderate impact ofCOVID-19 YouTube animated cartoons on health behaviour of social media users. The result further showed that exposure to COVID-19 YouTube animated cartoons will significantly predict knowledge of the virus. The result also showed that recall of messages theme in COVID-19 YouTube animated cartoons significantly predicts health behaviour of social media users. Finally, the result of the study showed that self-efficacy, task self-efficacy, coping self-efficacy, and outcome expectancy significantly predict health behaviour sustainability among social media users who are exposed to COVID-19 YouTube animated cartoon. We highlighted the implications of these results on health promotions.

‘I take it to relax… and chill’: perspectives on cannabis use from marginalized Nigerian young adults

Background Current research on drug use emphasizes harms and often neglects its pleasures and benefits. This one-sided view has supported policies that criminalize personal drug use. This study explores nuanced understandings of cannabis use from the perspectives of marginalized users in Nigeria. Methods This study is based on qualitative research conducted with street-involved young adults (n = 97) recruited through time-location sampling in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. Data were collected through in-depth, individual interviews, transcribed, coded and analyzed thematically. Results Cannabis offered corporeal and social pleasures, which were shaped by the socio-spatial context of use. It was also used in marginalized ways to relieve social stress, cope with trauma, enable daily functioning, and everyday survival struggle. This encouraged heavy use, which produced health harms including dependence as well as physical and mental health problems. Social and legal harms were of more concern to the participants than health ones. Unlawful policing practices, including physical abuses and financial extortion, exacerbated the health and social harms of structural violence they experience. Conclusions Cannabis use is a more nuanced practice than is captured in the dominant medico-legal discourse. Harms owe more to the socio-legal contexts of use than to the drug’s pharmacology. Reducing harms requires the provision of healthcare services and structural interventions, not criminalizing a population already situated on the margins of a resource-poor society.

Modeling predictors of COVID-19 health behaviour adoption, sustenance and discontinuation among social media users in Nigeria

The aim of this study was to suggest a model that explains the predictors of COVID-19 health behaviour adoption, sustenance and discontinuation among social media users in Nigeria. Survey research design was used for the study. The sample size was made of 600 social media users with questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. The structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to analyse the result for the study. It was found that six variables-risk vulnerability, risk severity, barriers to action, benefits of action, self-efficacy, and cue to behaviour-predict COVID-19 health behaviour adoption. Also, two variables-risk vulnerability and risk severity-predict COVID-19 health behaviour sustenance. Finally, two variables-behaviour fatigue and behaviour discomfort-predict COVID-19 health behaviour discontinuation. The result of the current study has provided information that could guide health experts in dealing with the issue of behaviour fatigue and behaviour discomfort, which have been identified as responsible for health behaviour discontinuation. In addition, a model for predicting health behaviour adoption, sustenance and discontinuation has been suggested.

Redefining recovery: Accounts of treatment experiences of dependent cannabis users in Nigeria

BackgroundResearch on addiction recovery describes recovery as a process leading to cessation of drug use. Few researchers have explored alternative views of recovery, and the interplay of individuals' agency and social context in the recovery process. This study explored situated understandings of recovery among cannabis users that emphasized process and contingency. MethodsWe conducted the study in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. Participants were current (street-involved) cannabis users aged 21 to 34 (n = 97), recruited through time-location sampling. The study collected data through in-depth, individual interviews, which study staff transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically. ResultsParticipants' accounts indicated a quest for treatment as a means of recovery and redemption (i.e., repairing an identity damaged by dependent cannabis use). Relapse affected recovery when participants defined the latter as abstinence. Framing recovery this way showed the effects of social and structural factors on individual agency and treatment experiences. Yet some participants' accounts highlighted a redefinition of recovery as a process (“recovering”), measured by such outcomes as reduced drug use and improved overall well-being. ConclusionsReframing recovery, as some participants' accounts in our study capture, speaks to the need for treatment programs that are informed by the principles of harm reduction and health promotion. Instead of foisting a singular treatment goal defined as total abstinence onto drug users seeking treatment, treatment should be attuned to the experiences and life circumstances of users and support them in achieving their recovery goals.

Social Media and the Liabilities of Internet Service Providers in Nigeria

Social media has been the vehicle for the dynamic progression of globalization. The purpose of social media encompasses many ends. Some of which allow for liabilities for third-party users, or in some circumstances, liabilities for Internet Service Providers. There are many complications in determining the liabilities of Internet Service Providers and third-party users. This paper examined the nature of Internet Service Providers (ISP), social media, and the activities of third-party users in Nigeria. It also interrogated the various instances where third party use of social media might affect ISP liability. This paper further explored the judicial and legal framework of some jurisdictions to see how they view the liabilities of internet service providers. The paper concluded that internet service providers should be held accountable for the content that is published on their platforms as it affects greatly the lives of concerned users offline.

Associations of Government-Mandated Closures and Restrictions With Aggregate Mobility Trends and SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Nigeria

To prepare for future coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) waves, Nigerian policy makers need insights into community spread of COVID-19 and changes in rates of infection associated with government-mandated closures and restrictions. To measure the association of closures and restrictions with aggregate mobility and the association of mobility with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections and to characterize community spread of COVID-19. This cross-sectional study used aggregated anonymized mobility data from smartphone users in Nigeria who opted to provide location history (from a pool of up to 40 million individuals) collected between February 27 and July 21, 2020. The analyzed data included daily counts of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections and daily changes in aggregate mobility across 6 categories: retail and recreation, grocery and pharmacy, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential. Closures and restrictions were initiated on March 30, 2020, and partially eased on May 4, 2020. Interrupted time series were used to measure associations of closures and restrictions with aggregate mobility. Negative binomial regression was used to evaluate associations between confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections and mobility categories. Averted infections were estimated by subtracting cumulative confirmed infections from estimated infections assuming no closures and restrictions. Closures and restrictions had negative associations with mean change in daily aggregate mobility in retail and recreation (-46.87 [95% CI, -55.98 to -37.76] percentage points; P < .001), grocery and pharmacy (-28.95 [95% CI, -40.12 to -17.77] percentage points; P < .001), parks (-43.59 [95% CI, -49.89 to -37.30] percentage points; P < .001), transit stations (-47.44 [95% CI, -56.70 to -38.19] percentage points; P < .001), and workplaces (-53.07 [95% CI, -67.75 to -38.39] percentage points; P < .001) and a positive association with mobility in residential areas (24.10 [95% CI, 19.14 to 29.05] percentage points; P < .001). Most of these changes reversed after closures and restrictions were partially eased (retail and recreation: 14.63 [95% CI, 10.95 to 18.30] percentage points; P < .001; grocery and pharmacy: 15.29 [95% CI, 10.90 to 19.67] percentage points; P < .001; parks: 6.48 [95% CI, 3.98 to 8.99] percentage points; P < .001; transit stations: 17.93 [95% CI, 14.03 to 21.83] percentage points; P < .001; residential: -5.59 [95% CI, -9.08 to -2.09] percentage points; P = .002). Additionally, every percentage point increase in aggregate mobility was associated with higher incidences of SARS-CoV-2 infection in residential areas (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.03 [95% CI, 1.00 to 1.07]; P = .04), transit stations (IRR, 1.02 [95% CI, 1.00 to 1.03]; P = .008), and workplaces (IRR, 1.01 [95% CI, 1.00 to 1.02]; P = .04). Lastly, closures and restrictions may have been associated with averting up to 5.8 million SARS-CoV-2 infections over the study period. In this cross-sectional study, closures and restrictions had significant associations with aggregate mobility and were associated with decreased SARS-CoV-2 infections. These findings suggest that future anticontagion measures need better infection control and contact tracing in residential areas, transit stations, and workplaces.

When it is available, will we take it? Social media users' perception of hypothetical COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria.

IntroductionCOVID-19 pandemic is a global public health threat facing mankind. There is no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19, and many vaccine candidates are currently under clinical trials. This study aimed to understand the perception of social media users regarding a hypothetical COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria.Methodswe conducted a cross-sectional survey among social media users in Nigeria in August 2020 using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire includes sections on the demographic characteristics of the respondents and their perception regarding a hypothetical COVID-19 vaccine. A total of 517 respondents completed and returned the informed consent along with the questionnaire electronically. Data were coded and abstracted into Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and loaded into the STATA 14 software for final analysis.Resultsthe results showed that more than half of the respondents were male 294 (56.9%). Most of the respondents 385 (74.5%) intend to take the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. Among the 132 respondents that would not take the COVID-19 vaccine, the major reason for non-acceptance was unreliability of the clinical trials 49 (37.1%), followed by the belief that their immune system is sufficient to combat the virus 36 (27.3%). We found a significant association between the age of the respondents and the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance (P-value=0.00) as well as geographical location and COVID-19 vaccine acceptance (P-value=0.02).Conclusionit was observed that most of the respondents were willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Our findings also reiterate the need to reassure the public the benefits an effective and safe COVID-19 vaccine can reap for public health. There is a need for national health authorities in Nigeria to ensure public trust is earned and all communities, including the marginalized populations, are properly engaged to ensure an optimal COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.

Social Responsibility and Ethics Practices on Purchase Intention of Female Mobile Phone Users in Nigeria

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ethic practices has become dominant issues in business reporting, with every corporation having a policy concerning CSR and producing report annually detailing its activities. The society on the other hand, are interested in the way corporations are carrying out their activities, whether it is ethical done or otherwise. This study examined the effects of social responsibility and ethics practice on purchases intention of female mobile phone users in Ekiti State. The total population for the study was 9495 with the sample of 357 gotten from Krecie and Morgan sample size table. The data were analysed from the information collected through questionnaire. The research makes use of chi-square to check the relationship between the explanatory variables and the dependent variable at 0.05 level of significant. The results revealed that 85% of the respondents totally agreed that social responsibility influence purchase intention among mobile phone users in Ekiti State. While only 5% are undecided and the other 10% of the respondents strongly disagreed with the statement. Therefore, it is clear that social responsibility has an influence on the purchase intention of female mobile phone users in Ekiti State. It was concluded that for any organization to survive, it has to properly take part in social responsibility activity as more women approve of it. The study recommended that company should expand their activities by going into other areas like health, education, charity giving, instead of focusing sport and entertainment.

User motivation in fake news sharing during the COVID-19 pandemic: an application of the uses and gratification theory

PurposeThis study developed a predictive model that established the user motivational factors that predict COVID-19 fake news sharing on social media.Design/methodology/approachThe partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used for the analysis. Data were drawn from 152 Facebook and WhatsApp users in Nigeria to examine the research model formulated using the uses and gratification theory (UGT).FindingsWe found that altruism, instant news sharing, socialisation and self-promotion predicted fake news sharing related to COVID-19 pandemic among social media users in Nigeria. Specifically, altruism was the strongest predictor to fake news sharing behaviour related to COVID-19, followed by instant news sharing and socialisation. On the contrary, entertainment had no association with fake news sharing on COVID-19.Practical implicationsWe suggest intervention strategies which nudge people to be sceptical of the information they come across on social media. We also recommend healthcare providers and the Nigerian government to provide relevant information on this current pandemic. That is, correct information should be shared widely to the public domain through various conventional and online media. This will lessen the spread of fake news on the concocted cure and prevention tips found online.Originality/valueThe salient contributions of this study are as follows: First, it brings to the fore that the desire for self-promotion is associated with fake news sharing on social media; second, it shifts the focus of studies on fake news from detection methods to sharing behaviour, which fuels the uncontrollable spread of falsehood; third, it expands the existing literature on misinformation sharing by demonstrating the user motivation that leads to fake news sharing using the UGT.

What drives news sharing behaviour among social media users? A relational communication model from the social capital perspective

This study modelled the online environmental factors that drive news sharing behaviour, using social capital theory (SCT). An online survey was used to obtain data from 385 WhatsApp users in Nigeria, analysed with structural equation modelling-partial least squares (PLS). The study’s results suggest that social interaction ties, sense of belonging, reciprocity, homophily and trust positively predict news sharing behaviour. Specifically, social interaction ties was the strongest predictor of news sharing behaviour followed by sense of belonging and reciprocity. This study also found a positive association between age and news sharing and a non-significant association with gender. Hence, news sharing should also be viewed as a form of social cohesion from the relational communication perspective. This study has some interesting implications for theoretical advancement. Firstly, it extends the motivations for news sharing beyond the predominant personal motivations highlighted in the literature. Secondly, it contributes to social capital theory by incorporating homophily to form the cognitive aspect of social capital. Thirdly, it extends the application of SCT to comprehend news sharing behaviour on social media platforms (SMPs). Finally, it explores news sharing behaviour beyond the predominant Asian, European and US contexts.

Effect of dramatized health messages: Modelling predictors of the impact of COVID-19 YouTube animated cartoons on health behaviour of social media users in Nigeria

Previous studies on the impact of Internet-powered media on health promotion have often neglected the relationship between message recall and health behaviour. Such neglect makes it look as though exposure to media messages automatically leads to recall. Also, other studies appear to have paid less attention to understanding if the perception of the existence or otherwise of a public health issue actually influences the effectiveness of health intervention. In the current study, the authors suggest a model that takes into consideration these existing gaps. They examined 470 social media users who were exposed to YouTube animated cartoons on COVID-19 using an example from a developing country. The authors found, among others, that perception concerning the realness of COVID-19 was the greatest contributing factor in predicting the effectiveness of YouTube animated cartoons on health behaviour. The scholarly theoretical and practical contributions of the findings are explored.

FAKE NEWS PROLIFERATION IN NIGERIA: CONSEQUENCES, MOTIVATIONS, AND PREVENTION THROUGH AWARENESS STRATEGIES

Purpose: This study aims to understand the effects of fake news spreading in Nigeria, the reasons for fake news sharing among social media users, and eventually propose preventive measures (i.e. awareness strategies) to combat the proliferation of fake news in Nigeria.&#x0D; Main results: Some grave implications of fake news sharing were identified such as death, conflict escalation, political hostility, and societal panic. Meanwhile, people were motivated to share news mainly because of their civil obligation to inform others and provide advice or warning. These motivations, together with other contextual reasons such as media control, interpersonal trust and youth unemployment, had led to fake news proliferation in Nigeria.&#x0D; Methodology: This study adopts a documentary research method to generate the information necessary to investigate fake news spread in Nigeria. A total of 265 articles were drawn from Google Scholar search and after a close examination, only 20 articles were included for analysis.&#x0D; Implications: There is a need to increase fake news awareness, media and information literacy among Nigerians. Social media users should be constantly informed through adequate advertisements, workshops, conferences, and other forms of sensitization, about the consequences of fake news sharing, how to spot and differentiate fake news with made-up news and why it is imperative to be self-aware before forwarding any message.&#x0D; Originality/novelty: This paper contributes to knowledge in two ways. First, it compiles past research on fake news in Nigeria and analysed contextual factors and consequences of fake news proliferation in this context. Second, it reinforces the need for fake news awareness as a means of reducing the spread of fake news among social media users in Nigeria.

Issues in Internet Regulation in Nigeria: The need to Promulgate a Befitting Legislation

One of the most profound problems in modern Nigeria is the challenge of regulating the internet. As at the end of March 2019, the total number of internet users in Nigeria reached 111.6 million conveniently placing the country in the 7th place among the countries of the world with the highest number of internet users. There is no gainsaying that the internet has contributed immensely to the development of the country in all spheres but also the multidimensional atrocities that have been carried out via the internet cannot be gainsaid. The internet is an integral part of the structure of modern society. It is for this reason that it is no longer only the real space that should be regulated, the cyberspace has to be made subject to definite guiding principles. The paper briefly describes the history of internet regulation in Nigeria and incidences of internet abuse. Furthermore, the subject of internet censorship is discussed putting into consideration certain jurisdictions of the world. The paper also seeks to make a succinct review of the controversial Protection from internet falsehood and manipulation bill which is presently a subject of the legislative process at the senate arm of the National Assembly. The writer concludes by proffering some pragmatic recommendations which are believed to sustain the requisite capacity to ameliorate the present situation.