An Examination of the Legal, Policy, and Institutional Framework for Promoting Renewable Energy Projects as Panaceas for Sustainable Development in Nigeria

Abstract

Over the years, electricity shortage has been a persistent problem in the socioeconomic development of Nigeria. Although the country’s primary source of energy has been non-renewable energy sources such as natural gas, crude oil, coal and lignite, these sources have negatively impacted our climate, through pollution and greenhouse gas emissions among others. As the world is rapidly shifting from non-renewable fuel sources to renewable energy sources such as: hydropower; solar; biomass; geothermal; and wind which are environmentally friendly to combat climate change, and provide energy security. Nigeria should not be left behind in this global shift. This article seeks to examine the laws, policies and institutional frameworks that promotes renewable energy in Nigeria while identifying the critical challenges that hinders its implementation and discussing the significance of promoting renewable energy for sustainable development. The finding reveals that Nigeria is yet to maximize the benefits of renewable energy sources despite the numerous frameworks that Nigeria has due to barriers militating against its implementation such as absence of a cogent and specific legal framework on renewable energy. Adopting a doctrinal legal research methodology, the study made some recommendations among others, the enactment of a comprehensive, specific and coherent legal framework on renewable energy in Nigeria which is of utmost importance, as well as strengthening the existing policies to enhancing the capacity of energy regulatory bodies.