About the Journal

1. Scope: NJBLS welcomes original research articles, reviews, and short communications spanning a wide array of disciplines, including:

  • Biochemistry
  • Biodiversity
  • Biotechnology
  • Conservation Biology
  • Ecology
  • Entomology
  • Environmental Science
  • Forensic Science
  • Genetics
  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Mycology
  • Parasitology
  • Pharmaceutical Microbiology
  • Plant Science
  • Virology
  • Zoology

 

2. Publication Frequency: NJBLS follows a continuous publication model. Articles are published online and collected into quarterly issues (January, April, July, and October).

3. Plagiarism Policy

NJBLS maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism. We define plagiarism as the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work without proper attribution.

Similarity Index Threshold: All manuscripts submitted to NJBLS will be screened using plagiarism detection software. The acceptable overall similarity index for a manuscript is 20% or less.

  • 20% or less: Manuscripts with an overall similarity index of 20% or less will proceed to the next stage of editorial review.
  • 21-49%: Manuscripts with a similarity index in this range will be returned to the authors for revision. Authors must carefully rephrase and properly cite the similar text. A revised manuscript must be resubmitted within two weeks.
  • 50% or more: Manuscripts with an overall similarity index of 50% or higher will be immediately rejected without further review.

Our Unique Approach: While we use a strict similarity index threshold, our editorial team performs a manual review of every submission. This is a crucial part of our policy. We understand that a low similarity score does not guarantee originality, just as a high score doesn't always mean intentional plagiarism. Therefore, we focus on the context and originality of ideas—not just text similarity. A manuscript may have a low similarity percentage but still be rejected if the editorial team finds that the ideas and structure are a rehash of a previously published

work with minimal new insight. We believe this dual approach ensures we publish truly novel and valuable research.

Consequences of Plagiarism: If a manuscript is found to have plagiarized content—regardless of the similarity score—it will be immediately rejected. The authors and their institutions may be notified. If plagiarism is discovered in a published article, the article will be retracted, and an official notice will be published.

4. Article Processing Charge

To maintain high-quality open-access publishing, NJBLS charges the following fees:

Initial Submission/Handling Fee: ₦5,000 (Non-refundable, payable upon submission for initial triage).

Publication Fee: ₦20,000 (Payable only after formal acceptance of the manuscript).

Payment Method: All payments should be made in favour of Nigeria Journal of Biotechnology and Life Science, Account 1227711177, Zenith Bank Plc, and a proof of payment should be forwarded to biotechnology.lifescience@fud.edu.ng

5. Peer review process

The double-blind peer review process at NJBLS is designed to be rigorous, fair, and confidential, ensuring that all published research is of high academic quality. The process can be outlined in the following stages:

Stage 1: Initial Submission & Editorial Screening

The author submits the manuscript electronically through the online portal, along with a cover letter. The editorial office first checks if the manuscript adheres to the journal’s scope and formatting guidelines. They also perform an initial plagiarism screening using detection software. A manuscript with a similarity index of over 50% is immediately rejected, while those with a score between 21% and 49% are returned for revision. The editorial team also conducts a manual review for originality of ideas.

Stage 2: Peer Review

If the manuscript passes the initial screening, it is assigned to an editor. The editor then invites expert reviewers to evaluate the manuscript. In line with the journal's ethical policies, the identities of the reviewers are kept strictly confidential. The reviewers assess the manuscript based on its scientific merit, originality, and clarity using a dedicated evaluation form. They provide both confidential recommendations to the editor and detailed comments for the authors.

Stage 3: The Editorial Decision

The editor collects all feedback from the reviewers. Based on the reviewers' recommendations (Accept, Accept with Minor Revisions, Moderate Revision Required, Major Revisions Required, or Reject), the editor makes a final decision. This decision is based solely on the academic merit of the work, without any bias. The editor then communicates the decision to the author, along with the detailed, non-confidential reviewer comments and suggestions for revision.

Stage 4: Revision and Final Publication

If the manuscript is accepted with revisions, the author is given a set timeframe to revise the manuscript based on the reviewers' comments. For major revisions, the resubmitted manuscript may undergo a second round of peer review. Once a manuscript is approved by the editor, it is moved forward for publication.

6. Open access policy

NJBLS is an open access journal that makes all of its content available free of charge, with the understanding that making research freely available to the public fosters a greater global flow of knowledge, except for commercial purposes. Users are free to read, download, copy, and print any article published in the journal.

Ethical principles and publication policy

NJBLS is committed to ensuring the highest standards of publication ethics. We adhere to the core practices and principles outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Our ethical policy applies to all parties involved in the publishing process: authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher.

  1. Authorship and Contributorship
    • Authorship: All authors listed on a manuscript must have made a significant intellectual contribution to the research. This includes contributing to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All authors must have seen and approved the final version of the manuscript and agreed to its submission for publication.
    • Contributors: Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet the criteria for authorship (e.g., technical support, a language editor) should be acknowledged in the "Acknowledgements" section.
    • Authorship Changes: Any changes to the author list after submission (additions, deletions, or changes in order) must be approved by all authors and a valid reason for the change must be provided to the editorial office.

 

  1. Originality and Plagiarism
    • Originality: Authors must ensure their work is entirely original. If they have used the work and/or words of others, this must be appropriately cited or quoted.
    • Plagiarism: Plagiarism in all its forms, including "passing off" another's work as one's own, copying or paraphrasing substantial parts of another's paper without attribution, or claiming results from research conducted by others, is unethical and unacceptable.
    • Self-Plagiarism: The redundant reuse of an author’s own previously published text without proper citation is not acceptable. Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently is unethical and will result in immediate rejection.
  2. Data Integrity and Image Manipulation
    • Honesty: Authors must present an accurate and objective account of the research performed. All data should be represented accurately, and a paper should contain sufficient detail and references to permit others to replicate the work.
    • Falsification: Fabrication or falsification of data is unethical and unacceptable. This includes the manipulation of research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results.
    • Image Integrity: Images should not be manipulated in a way that could lead to misinterpretation of the results.
  3. Conflicts of Interest
    • Declaration: All authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any and all competing interests. This includes financial support, personal relationships, or any other factor that could be perceived to influence the objectivity of the research or the review process.
    • Transparency: Authors must declare all sources of financial support for their research in the acknowledgements section of their manuscript.
  4. Human and Animal Rights
    • Ethical Approval: For research involving human or animal subjects, authors must state that they have obtained formal and documented ethical approval from an institutional or national ethics committee.
    • Consent: Authors must confirm that all research involving human subjects was conducted with informed consent from the participants.
    • Welfare: Research involving animals must comply with all relevant ethical and regulatory principles for animal welfare.
  5. Peer Review and Editorial Responsibilities
    • Confidentiality: All submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential documents. The identities of reviewers are kept strictly confidential.
  • Fairness: Editors evaluate manuscripts based solely on their academic merit, without regard to the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, religious belief, citizenship, or political philosophy.
  1. Corrections and Retractions
    • Author Obligation: If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, it is their obligation to promptly notify the journal's editor and cooperate in correcting or retracting the paper.
    • Publisher Responsibility: The journal will issue corrections or retractions if scientific errors, fraud, or other ethical violations are discovered in a published article.

 

8. Archiving Policy

NJBLS is committed to ensuring the long-term preservation and accessibility of its published content. This policy outlines our approach to digital archiving, guaranteeing that all articles will remain permanently available to the academic community and the public.

To secure our digital assets, NJBLS utilizes the PKP Preservation Network (PKP PN). The PKP PN provides a free, decentralized, and distributed digital preservation service specifically for journals that use the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform.

The PKP PN operates as a "dark archive," meaning that copies of all published articles are securely stored in multiple locations within a global network of participating libraries. This network is designed to protect against data loss from various threats, including server failures, natural disasters, or the discontinuation of the journal.

In the event of a "trigger event"—such as NJBLS ceasing publication or its website becoming permanently inaccessible—the PKP PN will make the preserved content publicly available. This ensures that the scholarly record is maintained and remains accessible to everyone.

By publishing with NJBLS, authors can be confident that their work is not only widely disseminated but also permanently preserved for future generations of scholars and researchers. Our commitment to this robust archiving policy reflects our dedication to the sustainability and integrity of scholarly communication.

 9. Privacy Statement

NJBLS is committed to protecting the privacy of the personal information of its users. The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.

 10. License

All articles published in NJBLS are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

This license allows users to freely:

  • Share: Copy and redistribute the material in any medium or
  • Adapt: Remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even

The only requirement is Attribution. You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if any changes were made.

By publishing with NJBLS, authors retain copyright to their work while granting the journal the right of first publication under this license. This ensures that your research is as open and impactful as possible.

For more details, please view the full license here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/