Energy Security in Nigeria: An Examination of Unnerving Legal Issues and The Applicable Legal and Institutional Framework

Today’s modern society cannot be defined without reference to the importance of energy security. The term energy security is a condition that the citizens and businesses of a nation have access to sufficient energy sources at reasonable prices for the foreseeable future and devoid or free from serious risk of major disruption of service. The nexus between adequate energy sources and its legal framework cannot be far-fetched in Nigeria there is vast energy resources but is the country is mal-nourished in terms of adequate energy for its citizens and businesses. The doctrinal method of researched was employed to examine primary and secondary legislation that support the energy sector in Nigeria. This work is in line with goal seven (7) of the sustainable development goals signed by members of the United Nations in 2015. Data was sourced from international and national legal documents, policy papers, textbooks, journal articles and web sources. Energy insecurity is present in Nigeria, not because of inadequacies of law and policies but lack of political will to implement some policies that are in place. Some gaps in law are identified which includes the lack of specific legislation whose goal is security of energy supply like the Energy Security Act of United States. Nigeria has energy good policies like Denmark but there is failure to implement the programs in these policies to tackle the challenge of energy security.