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Law, Policy, and the Development of Renewable Energy for Electricity: A Case for a Renewable Energy Law in Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2021

Kamoru Taiwo Lawal
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Abstract

Nigeria faces a perennial problem of inadequate electricity generation and supply. Electricity generation from fossil fuel sources has not succeeded in meeting the electricity needs of the country. And attempts to diversify electricity generation sources to include renewable energy sources have not been successful. Although there is a policy direction supporting the inclusion of renewable energy sources for electricity generation, the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 (ESPR) has not succeeded in achieving the country's sustainable electricity drive. Nigeria needs to vigorously pursue its renewable electricity objectives through a law dedicated to encouraging uptake of renewable energy. This article examines the law and the policies underpinning Nigeria's sustainable electricity drive through a critique of the EPSR Act and the energy policy in light of Nigeria's renewable electricity objectives.

Keywords

Electricityrenewable energyenergy lawNigeriasustainable energy
Type
Articles
Information
International Journal of Legal Information , Volume 49 , Issue 1 , Spring 2021 , pp. 3 - 15
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by International Association of Law Libraries

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Footnotes

© Kamoru Taiwo Lawal 2021. The author is a research student at the Adelaide Law School, University of Adelaide, and also a Legal Practitioner & Consultant.

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19 Ibid.

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24 ECN, National Energy Policy (n 19) 36.

25 Ibid.

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27 National Planning Commission, “Report of the Vision 2020 National Technical Working Group on Energy Sector” (Presidency, 2009), p. 144.

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46 Ismaila H. Zarma, Hydro Power Resources in Nigeria, Energy Commission of Nigeria (Country position paper presented at 2nd Hydro Power for Today Conference, International Centre on Small Hydro Power, Hangzhou, China 2006).

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50 Energy Commission of Nigeria Act s 5(d)(i).

51 Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Renewable Energy Master Plan (Energy Commission of Nigeria, Abuja, 2012).

52 Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 s 99.

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54 Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 s 76.

55 Vincent Emodi, “Energy Policies for Sustainable Development Strategies: The Case of Nigeria” (Springer, 2016), p. 52.

56 Federal Environmental Protection Agency, “Draft Revised National Policy on the Environment” (Presidency, 1998).

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58 ECN, National Energy Policy (n 19) 1.

59 Ibid. 1, 8.

60 ECN, Energy Implications of Vision 20: 2020 and Beyond (n 39) 19.

61 Ibid. 61.

62 ECN, National Energy Policy (n 19) 36, 45, 64.

63 Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Renewable Energy Master Plan 2005.

64 Ibid. 26–32.

65 Ibid. 5–6, 23–4.

66 International Renewable Energy Agency, “Policies and Regulations for Renewable Energy Mini-Grids,” (November 2018), p. 24.

67 FMPS, Renewable Electricity Policy Guidelines (n 43).

68 Ibid. 3.

69 Ibid. 4.

70 Ibid. 3, 13 and 16; Worika, Rural Applications (n 49) 269.

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72 FMP, National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (n 33) viii; Dalberg Global Development Advisors, “Improving Access to Electricity Through Decentralised Renewable Energy, Policy Analysis from India, Nigeria, Senegal and Uganda” (2017), p. 47.

73 FMP, National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (n 33) 67.

74 Ibid. iv, 7, 10.

75 Ibid. viii.

76 Ibid. 4.

77 Ibid. 21; Dalberg Global Development Advisors (n 66) 56.

78 Dalberg Global Development Advisors (n 66) 56.

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101 Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 s 32(a).

102 Osaretin Aigbovo and Ebiton Ogboka, “Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 and the Development of Renewable Energy in Nigeria,” Renewable Energy Law and Policy Review vol. 7 (2016), pp. 20–21.

103 The Electric Power Sector Reform Act gives the Ministry certain oversight powers over the electricity industry. See Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 ss 24, 27, 28.

104 Energy Commission of Nigeria Act ss 4(a)(d)(e)&(h) and 33; Energy Commission of Nigeria, “Energy Commission of Nigeria's Mission Statement” <http://www.energy.gov.ng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78&Itemid=89>; Peter K. Oniemola, “Powering Nigeria through Renewable Electricity Investment: Legal Framework for Progressive Realization,” Afe Babalola University Journal of Sustainable Development, Law and Policy vol. 2 no. 1 (2015), p. 89.

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107 E. L. Efurumibe, “Barriers to the development of renewable energy in Nigeria,” Journals of Biotechnology vol. 2 no. 1 (2013), pp. 11–12.

108 Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 s 82(4)&(5).

109 Maria Vagliasind, “Implementing Energy Subsidy Reforms: Evidence from Developing Countries” (World Bank, Washington, DC 2013), p. 248.

110 The rationale behind the non-discrimination provisions is to make the electricity sub-sector more competitive.

111 Kaisan Muhammad Usman, Aminu Haruna Isa and Johnson Oluyemi Ojosu, ‘Renewable Energy Financing: Towards a Financing Mechanism for Overcoming Pre-Commercialization Barriers of Renewable Energy Financing System in Nigeria’ International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research vol. 3 no. 4 (2012), p. 3.

112 Yemi Oke, ‘Conflicting Laws Keep Nigeria's Electricity Supply Unreliable’ (The Conversation, 24 August 2017) <https://theconversation.com/conflicting-laws-keep-nigerias-electricity-supply-unreliable-81393>.

113 Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 ss 31, 32; Yemi Oke, Conflicting Laws Keep Nigeria's Electricity Supply Unreliable (n 104).

114 Yemi Oke, Conflicting Laws Keep Nigeria's Electricity Supply Unreliable (n 104).

115 Yemi Oke, “Challenges and Developments in the Nigerian Power Industry” (2014) ALP Business Review-Energy (2014), p. 22.

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120 Yinka Omorogbe, The Role of Law in Promoting Renewable Energies in Africa (n 3) 219.

121 Bradbrook, Sustainable Energy Law: the Past and the Future (n 96) 511–12 & 514.

122 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, “Improving sustainable energy access for rural areas,” (8 January 2014) <http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/sustainable/rural-energy-access.html>.