Woman farmer generates biogas electricity for rural communities

Although Nigeria’s electrification rate is estimated at about 57%, the population experiences numerous power outages and blackouts, even as many rural communities across the country lack access to reliable sources of power.

Worried by this development, Fatimah Oyiza Ademoh of Ajima Farms, Abuja, FCT, who is a grant recipient of the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) Off-Grid Energy Challenge, initiated the construction of two biogas plants at Rije and Kuwizhi villages in Kuje Area Council.

Speaking at the launching of the Waste-2-Watt project at Rije, which is a 20Kw biogas mini-grid powering plant, Ademoh, the Project Coordinator, said the biogas plant is converting bio-wastes sourced from Ajima Farms, other surrounding farms and the community into biogas that powers the generators.

She said the biogas plant is capable of producing electricity for about 40 households and businesses in the community and meters were installed for the consumers to pay at affordable price.

“There are three components of this project; renewable energy, clean cooking solution and energy efficiency,” the Coordinator said, adding that the project has immense socio-economic benefits for the community members.

Commenting on the public-private partnership project, Tom Coogan, the Regional Director of USADF, said the two biogas plants cost $150,000, which was given to Ajima Farms as a grant.

He said USADF has since 2013 funded over 70 entrepreneurs in nine countries in Africa with over $7.5million.

Also speaking at the launching, the Chief of Rije Village, Mr.Ibrahim Kuyabwa, commended Ajima Farms, USADF and other partners for bringing the long awaited electricity to his community.