Nigeria is exploring the conversion of slaughterhouse waste into biogas and organic fertiliser through a partnership between the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) and the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), reported Peoples Gazette.
The two agencies formalised the collaboration through a memorandum of understanding and a memorandum of agreement signed in Abuja on Thursday. The initiative will focus on using anaerobic digestion to process organic waste generated by abattoirs into biogas and digestate, which can be further treated for use as organic fertiliser.
NBRDA Director-General Abdullahi Mustapha said the agency would provide technical support, adding that the initiative could help address environmental and sanitation challenges associated with improper disposal of slaughterhouse waste.
The materials identified for processing include animal blood, rumen contents, manure, wastewater and other biodegradable residues generated during slaughtering and meat processing. Converting these materials into useful products could reduce untreated waste accumulation, improve sanitation and limit pollution of surrounding water resources.
EHCON Registrar Yakubu Baba said the partnership demonstrated how collaboration between public institutions could address environmental health challenges while creating opportunities for productive use of waste resources. He reaffirmed the council’s commitment to implementing the agreement.
A Joint Technical Committee will oversee the implementation, including the identification of suitable abattoirs, capacity building, technology transfer and assessment of environmental and public health outcomes.
The agencies plan to begin with selected slaughter facilities, evaluating their daily waste generation, available space, water supply and energy requirements before determining the appropriate size and design of biogas plants. The gas produced could be used to meet energy requirements within abattoirs or supply nearby facilities.
The initiative will also explore the safe treatment and testing of digestate before its use as organic fertiliser, subject to quality and environmental safety requirements.
However, successful implementation will depend on access to reliable equipment, trained operators, adequate maintenance funding and proper safeguards for handling untreated waste.
The partnership is expected to create opportunities for abattoirs to generate alternative energy while improving waste management and reducing environmental pollution. NBRDA said the collaboration would connect biotechnology research with practical environmental solutions, although its long-term impact will depend on the scale of deployment and sustained monitoring.
