- Adeola Michael Dahunsi, an ocean scientist, has said that a wave energy converter system can intercept ocean waves and convert them into power.
- He said that the ocean does not flow like rivers; it transfers energy.
Adeola Michael Dahunsi, an ocean scientist, has said that a wave energy converter system can intercept ocean waves and convert them into power, noting that Nigeria has yet to fully harness the benefits that come with its water bodies.
Speaking recently, during a webinar themed ‘Understanding the Blue Economy in the Nigerian Context,’ Dahunsi added that harnessing wave strength will also reduce coastal erosion.
He noted, “The good thing about the ocean is that it’s always there. The strength is seasonal, but coastal erosion is a big problem in the Gulf of Guinea.”
He asked the government to “take advantage of wave energy. The wave is coming into an open coastline with nothing to protect it. When we want to protect it, we destroy our beautiful beaches. They put up rocks. That’s cheaper for the government because they’re just interested in protecting the land and preventing the sea from taking over the roads.”
The ocean does not flow like rivers; it transfers energy. Waves are generated by wind, and because of climate change, they are stronger nowadays, he said.
He explained, “Putting up wave energy converters for a country like Nigeria is a double win. Energy that would have gotten to the coast and caused coastal erosion is now converted to power. It will help reduce the erosion of coastal erosion and help with power generation.”
Dahunsi, interested in ocean observation and modelling, also advised the government to ensure the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth.
He said the ocean resources should be exploited to ensure self-generation without significant depletion.
“You have to invest in the blue economy before you make money out of it,” he noted.
He listed coastal and marine tourism, maritime transport, marine biotechnology, and seabed mining (for gold and diamonds) as other areas of the blue economy that the government can tap into to generate revenue.
Dahunsi also said with the stretch of coastline in Lagos, water transportation should be a big thing in the state as it is a way to reduce our carbon footprint as a city,” he said.