This study assesses the water resources and environmental challenges of Lagos mega city, Nigeria, in the context of climate change. Being a commercial hub, the Lagos population has grown rapidly causing an insurmountable water and environmental crisis. In this study, a combined field observation, sample analysis, and interviews were used to assess water challenges. Observed climate, general circulation model (GCM) projections and groundwater data were used to assess water challenges due to climate change. The study revealed that unavailability of sufficient water supply provision in Lagos has overwhelmingly compelled the population to depend on groundwater, which has eventually caused groundwater overdraft. Salt water intrusion and subsidence has occurred due to groundwater overexploitation. High concentrations of heavy metals were observed in wells around a landfill. Climate projections showed a decrease in rainfall of up to 140 mm and an increase in temperature of up to 8 °C. Groundwater storage is projected to decrease after the mid-century due to climate change. Sea level rise will continue until the end of the century. As the water and environmental challenges of Lagos are broad and the changing characteristics of the climate are expected to intensify these as projected, tackling these challenges requires a holistic approach from an integrated water resources management perspective.

The demand for cleaner fuels has been on the rise lately, prompting researchers to explore alternative cleaner technologies to meet the growing demand. This has led to the introduction of renewable fuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel. Depending on the feedstock employed for production, renewable fuels can be divided into first, second, and third generation. Reliance on first generation biofuel feedstocks has led to inherent competition between foods versus fuels in the society in the last decade. Further technological prospects in research and development have provided insight into the use of second generation biofuel feed‐stocks from non‐edible agricultural waste products, energy crops, and crop residues. Zeolites and modified zeolites as heterogeneous catalysts have been highly prospective for the transesterification process of these oils. Modified zeolite can act as a bi‐functional catalyst because of its acidic and basic sites. Here, a review of transesterification reaction technology, zeolite and modified zeolite as a heterogeneous catalyst to generate biodiesel was discussed. Current status, challenges and future prospects are also discussed.

The draining of fossil fuels and their toxic influence on the environment has prompted the need for alternative fuels known as biofuels. Of the various types of biofuel, biodiesel has attracted wide interest in the world today since it promotes carbon neutrality. The transesterification and interesterification process remains the most widely used process route for biodiesel production. In this review, the performance efficiency of solid base, solid acid, and bifunctional solid acid‐base catalysts for biodiesel production from waste cooking oil is considered. In particular, the benefit of exploring the biomass‐derived acid‐base heterogeneous bifunctional catalysts, current status, and future prospects for biodiesel production from waste cooking oil are elucidated.

Due to the potential depletion of fossil fuels and the need for the shift from its use to combat the aggravated impacts of climate change, the unsustainable use of these conventional fuels has been widely recognized. This has prompted commercialization of biofuels as an alternative sustainable fuel. This study summarizes the potential of third-generation biomass feedstocks, algae, for biofuel production on the example of Nigeria, where most biofuel plants still use first-and second-generation feedstocks, which have led to food and land mass competition. It is shown that the production and consumption of third-generation biofuel is at its infancy in the coun-try. It was also found that the climatic conditions in Nigeria are conducive for the cultivation of microalgae, which are the primary sources of the third-generation biofuel, even though there are barriers such as inadequate reliable resource database for investment decisions and technical expertise to develop and deploy biofuels in commercial form. The large population of Nigeria is a potential market for biofuel, therefore, commercialization of the third-generation biofuel can be a viable alternative energy source to conventional fossil fuels and it can generate employment for many in the country.