Biodisel Development in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges

Biodiesel development in Nigeria over the years has been given little attention because of the myriads of economic strain and stress facing the country like any other third world country. Biodiesel is a renewable source of energy that has not been fully tapped. Biodiesel can facilitate clean air, readily usable in existing engines and transport facilities, capable of generating employment and income for citizens and country at large. The major biomass world-wide is Jatropha plant which is currently generating interest in every economy of the world. The major means of converting the biomass into viable fuel is transesterification. The major problems facing the full exploit of this modern fuel is surmountable including the fear of taking-up arable agricultural land. Various generations of biofuel feed-stocks can be made use of in place of agricultural crops. The benefits and prospects of biodiesel production is huge and numerous. Deliberate efforts should be made by the government in terms of massive capital investment, training of man-power in the field of biofuel or biodiesel development, granting tax holidays to would-be investors_ companies and individuals, amongst many other things. If adequate policy frame-work is put in place and necessary political will is expressed and applied to the development and production of biodiesel in the country the economy would be better for it.