Renewable Energy Transition In Sub-Saharan Africa: Legal Prospects, Challenges And Strategic Pathways For Nigeria

The transition to renewable energy is gaining global momentum as countries striveto address climate change, ensure energy security, and achieve sustainabledevelopment. In Sub-Saharan Africa, however, the shift from fossil fuels to cleanerenergy sources remains uneven, with numerous structural, legal, and institutionalchallenges impeding progress. This paper critically examines the legal prospectsand barriers surrounding renewable energy adoption in the region, with aparticular focus on Nigeria the continent’s most populous nation and one of itslargest oil producers. Drawing on comparative legal analysis and policy evaluation,the study explores how existing legal frameworks either promote or hinderrenewable energy development. It further identifies gaps in regulation, inadequateenforcement mechanisms, and the absence of coherent energy transition policies askey obstacles. The paper proposes strategic legal reforms tailored to Nigeria’ssocio-economic and environmental needs, emphasising the need for clearlegislation, robust institutional support, and targeted incentives to attractinvestment in clean energy. By aligning national energy laws with global bestpractices, Nigeria and its Sub-Saharan counterparts can accelerate the shift towardsustainable energy systems. This study contributes to the broader discourse onenvironmental governance and energy justice in the Global South, offeringpractical legal pathways for a just and inclusive energy transition.