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This article empirically examines the underlying factors that influence beach preferences, choice decision-making processes, and perception of beach facilities by the local residents in Lagos, Nigeria. A survey of perception of two beaches by respondents in four Local Government Areas (LGAs) provided the primary data for the study. Using the Random Utility Theory (RUT) framework, the study discovered that preference formation and beach choices are considerably influenced by the respondent's perception of spatial and environmental attributes of beach sites as well as the recreationist characteristics. The implication of these findings is that the observed beach behavior of recreationists cannot only be attributed to their personal attributes but essentially to their perception of the conditions of the beaches. Hence, government with other stakeholders in tourism development in Nigeria needs to take a critical interest in the development of the beaches with regards to accessibility, facilities, security, environment, space, transport system, and a host of other important things that can facilitate attraction to coastal beaches in Lagos and in Nigeria at large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A preliminary serological study of 366 household dogs in Lagos and Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria, was carried out to determine antibodies due to exposure to Brucelin abortus and B. canis, using the rose bengal test (RBT) and the rapid slide agglutination (RSA) test, respectively. Results showed that 5.46 % (20/366) and 0.27 % (1/366) of the dogs screened were seropositive to B. abortus and B. canis, respectively. Of all dogs, 36 had a history of being fed foetuses from cows and 11(30.6 %) of these tested positive in the RBT. Our findings, although based on a limited sample size and a dearth of clinical details, revealed that dogs fri Nigeria may be infected with Brucelin spp. given the wide range of risk factors. Further studies are recommended to elucidate the epidemiology of brucellosis in dogs and its possible zoonotic consequences in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]