The study examined the impact of N-Power on poverty reduction among the youths in Gassol LGA of Taraba State. The population of the study is 550 out of which 232 respondents were sampled. The study adopted a self-developed questionnaire for data collection. Two hundred and thirty-two (232) copies of questionnaires were administered all were retrieved, making 100% return rate. The study employed inferential statistics (Multiple linear regression analysis) for data analysis. The results were presented in tables and discussed according to the objective. The study revealed a significant effect of N-Power on poverty reduction among youths in Gassol Local Government Area( p < a ).The study recommended that Federal Government should create more empowerment programmes that will expose youths to entrepreneurial skills and make them self-employed and self-reliance.

Geotechnical tests were performed on granite and granite-gneiss rock samples of parts of Minna to know their suitability as construction aggregates. Eight rock samples were selected for porosity test, impact value, specific gravity and absorption capacity. The average porosity of the samples is 0.21, 0.12, 0.30, 0.10, 0.25, 0.25, 0.24 and 0.11 respectively for L1, L14, L15, L19, L21, L23, L25 and L29 which shows they are normal except L15 with a high porosity. Average impact value of the samples show they are suitable for wearing surface course in road and bridge construction, except samples L14 and L19 with average impact value of 32.8 and 34.9 respectively making them suitable only as bituminous macadam (maximum value = 35%). Sample L1 is not suitable as construction aggregates because it exceeds the maximum value specified for that purpose. The average specific gravity of the rocks are L1=2.68, L14=2.65, L15=2.65, L19=2.67, L21= 2.63, L23= 2.71, L25=2.65, and L29=2.69 respectively and which make them suitable as normal weight materials for construction. The average absorption capacity values of the rock samples are 0.20%, 0.20%, 0.50%, 0.10%, 0.25%, 0.10%, 0.50% and 0.20% respectively for samples L1, L14, L15, L19, L21, L23, L25, and L29. All testing followed the respective ASTM standards. Keywords: Geotechnical testing, construction aggregates, granite, granite-gneiss, Minna, Nigeria.

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