Nigeria's energy shortfall could be alleviated by harnessing biogas.

n n

Biogas production can offer a viable solution to Nigeria’s persistent energy challenges, as a mechanical engineer and researcher, Dr Moses Fajobi, has stressed that an adequate energy supply remains central to sustainable development.

n

In a statement, Fajobi said the country must adopt biogas technology to drive growth across sectors, noting that the current energy mix cannot support meaningful development.

n

“Energy remains a critical factor for economic growth, and Nigeria’s current energy mix is insufficient to propel development, as many parts of the nation still lack access to reliable power,” Fajobi said.

n

He noted that Nigeria’s heavy dependence on fossil fuels is no longer sustainable due to depletion and associated risks.

n

“The use of fossil fuels is associated with numerous challenges, including climate-related concerns, environmental pollution, difficulties in energy exploration, ecological disruption and adverse health effects,” Fajobi stated.

n

He explained that biogas, derived from organic materials, presents a cleaner and more sustainable alternative, adding that Nigeria has abundant but underutilised biomass resources.

n

“Biogas is derived from biomass such as cow dung, food waste, agricultural residues and municipal solid waste, which are abundant in Nigeria but largely underutilised,” Fajobi said.

n

The researcher based his position on findings from his doctoral study, which examined the biogas potential of cow dung, mango pulp and Chromolaena odorata leaves.

n

He noted that poor disposal of these materials often creates environmental challenges in communities.

n

Fajobi explained that he adopted anaerobic digestion technology to convert biomass into energy, describing the process as occurring in an oxygen-free environment.

n

“Anaerobic digestion converts biomass into biogas through four stages: hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis,” Fajobi remarked.

n

He disclosed that the study found all the materials produced measurable quantities of biogas individually, while higher yields were recorded when combined.

n

Fajobi noted that the best-performing mix, consisting of 50 per cent cow dung, 25 per cent mango pulp, and 25 per cent Chromolaena odorata, produced the highest volume of 4,750 m³/kg over 40 days, while another blend yielded significantly lower output.

n

Fajobi said widespread adoption of biogas technology could transform Nigeria’s energy landscape by improving efficiency and safety.

n

“Widespread adoption of this technology could significantly transform Nigeria’s energy landscape by improving efficiency and safety,” Fajobi added.

n

He, however, called for increased awareness and strict adherence to safety standards, noting that biogas is highly flammable.

n

Fajobi also urged governments and non-governmental organisations to support the adoption of this approach through subsidies and policy support.

n

“Subsidies are required to reduce the cost of acquiring biogas systems and support large-scale deployment,” Fajobi noted.

n

He added that his research integrated machine learning and artificial intelligence to monitor key production parameters in real time, improving efficiency and reducing costs.

n

Fajobi maintained that adopting biogas technology would improve living standards, reduce economic losses linked to poor energy supply, and support poverty reduction, especially in rural communities.

n

“The adoption of biogas technology could improve the quality of life for Nigerians by reducing the economic losses associated with inadequate energy supply while boosting economic growth and promoting sustainable development,” he concluded.

n n