248
C. N. Nwedu
more general perspective, it contributes roughly 78% to national energy
consumption as primary energy.
71
The government’s interest in biofuels production from agricultural
crops had only become manifest in 2007 when it introduced Bio-Fuel
Policy and Incentives.
72 There exist other research on biomass potential for electricity generation in Nigeria, despite a lack of interest from
the government to harness its potential. Based on findings, Nigeria’s
cultivable agricultural landmass covers about 71 million ha, which is
about 77% of the country’s total area of 923,770 km 2 ,
73 of which 37.3%
is arable land,
74 with over 12.6 million active agriculturists.
75 There is a
massive potential for high energy content crops such as cassava, sugarcane, sorghum and corn in Nigeria, due to a fair availability of water and
cultivable arable lands.
76 These crops are considered the most promising
feedstock for biofuel production in the country.
77 There are also other
energy crops such as oil palm, wheat, soya beans, rice, groundnuts,
beans grown in the country, including cost-effectively viable feedstock
substrates for biogas like water lettuce, water hyacinth, dung, cassava
leaves, sewage, etc.
78
Existing research shows evolving bio-refineries in Nigeria utilize unsustainable first-generation biomass feedstock from food crops, which
71 AA Sokan-Adeaga and GR Ana, ‘A Comprehensive Review of Biomass Resources and Biofuel
Production in Nigeria: Potential and Prospects’ (2015) 30(3) Rev Environ Health, 143–162.
72 See, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Official Gazette of the Nigerian Bio-Fuel Policy
and Incentives 2007, http://www.Ise.ac.uk/GranthamInstitute/wp-content/uploads/laws/1517.
pdf, accessed 14 April 2020.
73 FAO, ‘AQUASTAT Country Profile 2016–Nigeria’, www.fao.org/3/i9807en/l9807EN.pdf,
accessed 14 April 2020.
74 Ben-Iwo, Manovic and Longhurst (n 64).
75 FAO, ‘Country Fact Sheet 2016’, www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/data/cf/readPdf.html?f=
NGA-CF_eng.pdf, accessed 14 April 2020.
76 Nelson Abila, ‘Biofuels Adoption in Nigeria: A Preliminary Review of Feedstock and Fuel
Production Potentials’ (2010) 21 Management of Environmental Quality an International
Journal, 785–795.
77 GET. invest (n 25).
78 John-Felix K. Akinbami and others, ‘Biogas Energy Use in Nigeria: Current Status, Future
Prospects and Policy Implications’ (2001) 5 Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 97–
112.
C. N. Nwedu
more general perspective, it contributes roughly 78% to national energy
consumption as primary energy.
71
The government’s interest in biofuels production from agricultural
crops had only become manifest in 2007 when it introduced Bio-Fuel
Policy and Incentives.
72 There exist other research on biomass potential for electricity generation in Nigeria, despite a lack of interest from
the government to harness its potential. Based on findings, Nigeria’s
cultivable agricultural landmass covers about 71 million ha, which is
about 77% of the country’s total area of 923,770 km 2 ,
73 of which 37.3%
is arable land,
74 with over 12.6 million active agriculturists.
75 There is a
massive potential for high energy content crops such as cassava, sugarcane, sorghum and corn in Nigeria, due to a fair availability of water and
cultivable arable lands.
76 These crops are considered the most promising
feedstock for biofuel production in the country.
77 There are also other
energy crops such as oil palm, wheat, soya beans, rice, groundnuts,
beans grown in the country, including cost-effectively viable feedstock
substrates for biogas like water lettuce, water hyacinth, dung, cassava
leaves, sewage, etc.
78
Existing research shows evolving bio-refineries in Nigeria utilize unsustainable first-generation biomass feedstock from food crops, which
71 AA Sokan-Adeaga and GR Ana, ‘A Comprehensive Review of Biomass Resources and Biofuel
Production in Nigeria: Potential and Prospects’ (2015) 30(3) Rev Environ Health, 143–162.
72 See, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Official Gazette of the Nigerian Bio-Fuel Policy
and Incentives 2007, http://www.Ise.ac.uk/GranthamInstitute/wp-content/uploads/laws/1517.
pdf, accessed 14 April 2020.
73 FAO, ‘AQUASTAT Country Profile 2016–Nigeria’, www.fao.org/3/i9807en/l9807EN.pdf,
accessed 14 April 2020.
74 Ben-Iwo, Manovic and Longhurst (n 64).
75 FAO, ‘Country Fact Sheet 2016’, www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/data/cf/readPdf.html?f=
NGA-CF_eng.pdf, accessed 14 April 2020.
76 Nelson Abila, ‘Biofuels Adoption in Nigeria: A Preliminary Review of Feedstock and Fuel
Production Potentials’ (2010) 21 Management of Environmental Quality an International
Journal, 785–795.
77 GET. invest (n 25).
78 John-Felix K. Akinbami and others, ‘Biogas Energy Use in Nigeria: Current Status, Future
Prospects and Policy Implications’ (2001) 5 Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 97–
112.