The Kwara State Government has announced plans to deploy biogas machines in major livestock markets as part of a strategic move to reduce environmental pollution, promote renewable energy, and support national livestock sector reforms.

The initiative, being implemented under the World Bank-assisted Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, will convert animal waste into biogas providing clean energy for market operations while improving sanitation and cutting methane emissions.

During a site inspection of Ipata and Mandate livestock markets in Ilorin, the General Manager of the Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWSEPA), Jide Aina, described the project as a "dual-benefit approach" that tackles waste management and advances the state's climate action goals.

"This initiative is a win-win for traders and the entire state. It will lead to a cleaner environment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide alternative energy sources while enhancing productivity in the livestock sector," Aina said.

The project is expected to improve working conditions for traders and serve as a model for sustainable urban livestock management in Nigeria.

In his remarks, the State Project Coordinator of L-PRESS, Olusoji Oyawoye, stressed that the project was part of government's commitment to sustainable agricultural practices.

Represented by HOD Waste Management Hajia Aminat Jidah, the state coordinator assured traders of continuous engagement to guarantee the project's smooth execution and sustainability.

The Kwara State Government, through KWEPA and the L-PRESS team, said the project was part of a broader vision to make the state a leader in sustainable livestock production and a reference point for other states in climate-smart agriculture and energy transition initiatives.

Nigeria's livestock sector has long grappled with low productivity, poor animal health systems, and worsening environmental footprints.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the sector contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions through methane from animal waste, open grazing practices, and inefficient waste disposal.

The Federal Government, through the National Livestock Transformation Plan and the L-PRESS project, has been working with states to reform the sector, encourage ranching, improve animal nutrition, and promote waste-to-energy innovations like biogas.

A Kwara based agronomist, Segun Olaiya, said the states' adoption of biogas technology is timely, given the state's growing livestock population and the increasing demand for climate-smart infrastructure in agriculture.

Beyond improving hygiene in livestock markets, the initiative could also serve as a model for integrating renewable energy into Nigeria's agricultural value chains.

Energy transition implications

Nigeria's 2060 net-zero target depends heavily on reducing emissions from agriculture, forestry, and land use, sectors that account for about 25 per cent of the country's total emissions.

Arewa PUNCH reports that Waste-to-energy solutions like biogas are increasingly seen as low-hanging fruit in the nation's energy transition, especially in rural and semi-urban communities where grid electricity supply remains weak.

For livestock traders, the deployment of biogas machines in markets such as Ipata and Mandate will not only ease waste management but also provide an affordable energy alternative to firewood, charcoal, and diesel-powered generators sources that contribute to deforestation and air pollution.

Our correspondent also reports that livestock traders have expressed optimism that the biogas project would transform their work environment, improve hygiene, and reduce recurrent conflicts over waste disposal.