Renewable energy critical to addressing Nigeria’s electricity deficit – Prof. Itodo

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Prof. Isaac Itodo has urged the Federal Government to come up with a better regulatory framework on renewable energy to address the nation’s electricity deficit.

Itodo, a Professor in the University of Agriculture, Markurdi, Benue made the call on Saturday at a “Knowledge sharing Workshop on: Sustainable Biogas Generation as an Alternative Energy Resource in Nigeria” in Delta.

The event was organised by the “Higher Education Partnership for Subsaharan Africa (HEP-SSA) projects and held at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun.

Itodo who spoke on “Sustainable Energy Resources: Practical Experience with Biogas Production and Utility” said renewable energy in the country lacked proper regulation and technical expertise among others

According to him, most of the Biogas built in Nigeria were based on “try and error” adding only about 25 Biogas were functional in the country of over 180 million population.

The Biogas expert said that Nigeria cannot meet her huge energy demand through hydro power source hence the need to urgently “diversify”.

“The 8,000 megawatts we generate as electricity is a mere theory, Nigeria need a minimum of sustained 35,000 megawatts to drive her industrialisation and other sector of the economy.

“Energy consumption per capita is a parameter for measuring the economic index of a nation,” he said.

Speaking with newsmen on the sideline, Itodo said there were different forms of renewable energy among which were: the Biofuel which included Biogas, the Solar Thermal among others.

“We must keep fate with the renewable energy technology because that is the only way the country can be energy independent and by implication stimulate other infrastructure like the ICT.

“Renewable energy is the only way we can reduce our electricity deficit and improve our energy per capita consumption.

“Our energy per capita consumption is very low compared to average countries in Africa like Gabon and others,” he said.

Itodo said there was need for experts in the renewable energy to meet periodically to brainstorm and deploy various technology to meet the electricity demands of the country.

“To build a Biogas is try and error in Nigeria, it takes me almost three years to get a Biogas working despite having a Phd in it.

” What you have in the laboratory is almost different from what you have in the field, so people should form groups certified by the regulatory agency and start training on Biogas,” he said.

Earlier, Dr Omonigho Otanocha, project coordinator, FUPRE-HEP-SSA, said the aim of the workshop was to share knowledge on the importance of Biogas to the people,  environment and the country.

He said the program was aimed at propagating the sustainable production of Biogas as well as scale up technology so that Small and Medium Scale Enterprises and households can used the organic substances generated to produce energy.

“This project will last for two years between 2018 and 2020.

“It will be held in other four Universities in Nigeria which include: Edo University, Iyamho, University of Abuja, Alex Ekwueme University, Ebonyi and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta to build research and development,” he said.

The FUPRE Vice Chancellor, Prof. Akaehomen Ibhadode who was represented by Prof Akpofure Oke declared the workshop opened.

Other resources persons including Prof. Kai Cheng of Brunel University, London also spoke at the event.(NAN)

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