In Nigeria, access to reliable and stable supply of electricity is a major challenge for both the urban and rural dwellers. In this study, comprehensive review of accessibility to clean and modern energy in Nigeria has been carried out. Also, this paper examines the potential of renewable energy (RE) resources in Nigeria that can be harnessed for continuous energy supply and the government's efforts to ensure RE's sustainability. Nigeria is endowed with abundant energy resources but the existing electric energy infrastructures are unable to meet the energy demands of teeming population. There is imbalance in energy supply and demand in the country. Over the period from 2000 to 2014, there was an average of about 2.35 billion kWh of energy gap between energy production and energy consumption. The highest electricity consumption per capita recorded so far was 156 kWh in 2012. This makes Nigeria one of the country with the lowest electricity consumption on per capita basis in the world. In order to improve access to clean energy supply and achieve sustainable development, this paper pin points the significance of decentralized renewable energy systems and needs for the government to review the policies on renewable energy development in the country.

Dangerous environmental consequences and market unpredictability of fossil fuels have necessitated the need for sustainable large-scale production of biofuel in Nigeria. Unrefined palm oil (UPO) is a significant product of commercially available oil palm plants in the country. This study experimentally investigates the production of biodiesel from refined, bleached and deodorised (RBD) palm olein extracted from UPO obtained from batch reactors. The transesterification process of the RBD palm olein with methanol and in the presence of potassium hydroxide (KOH) catalyst produced biodiesel with a 62.5% yield, thus confirming its feasibility for mass production. The derived biodiesel has properties equivalent to ASTM D792 standard for biodiesel fuels.

Polymers are generally inferior in mechanical properties to metals which are the current orthopaedic material for osseointegration in many parts of the world today. This assertion also applies to poly(lactic acid) (PLA), a polyester that has been recently found applicable in tissue remodelling. To improve on its mechanical properties, several processing techniques, inclusive of fused deposition modelling (FDM) also branded as fused filament fabrication (FFF), have been used. FDM has been endeared to many researchers because a range of parameters can be combined to bring about widely different mechanical properties. Although the influence of FDM parameters on the mechanical properties of PLA is clear, the tensile, compressive and flexural strengths obtained so far are inferior to human cortical bone. The need to improve on this production technique for improved mechanical properties is apparent in all the works examined in this review.

This study investigated the breakdown trend in an automated production with an aim to recommend the application of reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) for improved productivity via a new preventive maintenance (PM) program. An individual section-forming machine (ISM)—a glass blowing machine for making glass bottles—was used as the case study for an automated production system. The machine parts and the working mechanisms were analysed with a special focus on methods of processes and procedures. This will enable the ISM maintenance department to run more effectively and achieve its essential goal of ensuring effective machine operation and reduction in machine downtime. In this work, information is provided on the steps and procedures to identify critical components of the ISM using failure modes and effect analysis (FMEA) as a tool to come up with an optimal and efficient maintenance program using the reliability data of the equipment’s functional components. A relationship between the failure rate of the machine components and the maintenance costs was established such that using the recommended PM program demonstrates evidence of an improvement in the machine’s availability, safety, and cost-effectiveness and will result in an increase in the company’s profit margin.

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This paper presents technical and economic assessment of a hybrid energy system for electricity generation in rural communities in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The study was based on a 500 rural household model having an electric load of 493 kWh per day. To simulate long-term continuous implementation of the hybrid system, 21 years (1992 – 2012) hourly mean global solar radiation and wind speed data for the selected sites were used. The mean annual wind speed and solar radiation for the locations ranged from 2.31 m/s for Warri to 3.52 m/ s for Maiduguri and 4.53 kWh/m2 for Warri to 5.92 kWh/m2 for Maiduguri, respectively. These weather data were used for simulation with the Micro-power Optimization Model software HOMER. From the optimum results of the hybrid system,Warri has the highest NPC and COE of $2,441,222 and $0.721/kWh, respectively while Maiduguri has the least NPC and COE of $2,225,387 and $0.658/kWh, respectively for the 21 years project lifespan. The high value of COE for Warri is due to its low renewable energy resource while low COE for Maiduguri is due to its high renewable energy resource. The Northern part of the country has ample renewable energy resource availability and with a strong political will, optimal utilization of these renewable resources (solar and wind) can be actualized. Researchers, Industrialists, Policy Makers and the Nigerian government should therefore seize this opportunity in developing a sustainable energy through utilization of abundant renewable energy resources in the country.

Polylactide (PLA), a biopolymer, was reinforced with three fillers (two organic reinforcements and one inorganic filler). The processing technique used to fabricate the composites was the melt-blending technique. The composites and the unreinforced PLA were subjected to microhardness, compression and biodegradation characterisations. Data obtained are presented in this article as raw data. Data from microhardness and compression tests were used to predict the fracture toughness. The biodegradation of the composites was also examined, and the data obtained reported in this article. The data presented in this article allow for a comprehensive understanding of the mechanical behaviour and the biodegradation profile of three composites of PLA with respect to their applications as biodegradable implants. It also helps in the selection of fillers for biopolymers such as PLA.

A fully bio-based highly porous bio-fibre mat from polylactide (PLA) and bagasse particles (BCp) composite have been investigated for scaffold applications. PLA and BCp were mixed in varying proportions in dichloromethane (DCM) and electrospun (with specific machine parameters) into fibres at varying spin angles (30 , 45 and 90). A constant weight fraction of BCp (5 wt. %) was used to form solutions with varying concentrations 0.09-0.14 g/ml which were then electrospun into fibres. Mechanical, moisture resistance and morphological characteristics of the fibres were examined. Results reveal that a combination of specific fibre reinforcement, spinneret angle and solution concentration produced a highly porous fibre mat. The presence of the BCp in the electrospun PLA fibre enhanced the fibres' tensile strength. The study also reveals that fibre mechanical and physical properties are dependent on the spinneret angle and solution concentration.