FUD gets N27 million grant to conduct research for alternative fuel for cars, trains

FUD gets N27 million grant to conduct research for alternative fuel for cars, trains

Story from Dahiru SULEIMAN, Dutse

The Federal University Dutse research team has gotten a N27 million research grant from the TETfund National Research Fund (NRF) to conduct research into hydrocarbon as an alternative fuel to power cars and trains.

This was disclosed by the lead researcher, Dr Hafeez Yusuf Hafeez of the Physics Department, Federal University Dutse while speaking to our correspondent in Dutse, Jigawa State.

He said the use of hydrocarbon as an alternative source of fuel is an emerging field in the world of science, and the research is aimed at exploring the new area whose main raw materials is water and sunlight, adding that the team of researchers includes Prof. Abdulsalam Balarabe Suleiman, Prof. Chifu Ndiklar, Dr Jibrin Mohammed, Prof. Rabia S.Salihu of BUK and Dr Ibrahim Muhammad of Sokoto State University.

He said the research is relatively new in Africa but has gained some momentum in the USA, France, Japan, Canada and Germany where cars using hydrocarbon are already in use, while Japan has even gone ahead to power trains with hydrocarbon.

Dr Hafeez said the research is a continuation of his PhD thesis which won the best African research in India, because of the novelty of the area adding that no one in Africa is working on such research so far.

The lead researcher said the need for alternative fuel became a global concern, due to the adverse effect of fossil fuels on the environment especially climate change and global warming adding that hydrocarbon fuel which is produced from sunlight and water is cheap, clean and environmentally friendly.

He expressed his gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdulkarim Sabo Mohammed for all his support and encouragement to his many research ideas.