Nigeria’s quest for alternative clean energy development: A cobweb of opportunities, pitfalls and multiple dilemmas

Abstract

Nigeria has made pledges at various international fora to mainstream renewable energy in its energy mix. In keeping with these pledges, the country’s domain for alternative clean energy development is filled with multitudinous policy documents. This paper undertakes a systematic appraisal of the subsisting opportunities, pitfalls and dilemmas surrounding Nigeria’s quest for alternative clean energy development. The data for this paper are generated from key informant interviews as well as formal policy documents and scholarly archival materials. The paper finds a huge gap between setting national energy transition targets and realizing same. It further finds that Nigeria is yet to begin its journey of energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy in real terms despite ambitious targets and projections. It links it to structural gaps, policy discordance, uncon- ducive investment climate, questionable commitment of stakeholders to transit to renewable energy and inability to attract robust private investments. It recommends institutional overhaul to reposition the energy sector for real transition to green energy systems.