Will a Transition to Renewable Energy Promote Energy Security Amid Energy Crisis in Nigeria?

Nwedu, Cosmos Nike

There is growing support for energy transition aimed at utilizing cleaner, affordable, accessible and acceptable modern energy resources such as wind, hydro, biomass and solar worldwide. This development is somewhat driven by global demand for energy security, climate change mitigation and sustainability-related needs. However, within Nigeria’s context, over-dependence on fossil fuels marked with epileptic power crisis has continuously characterized her economic development. Though recognized as a leading West African energy producing country, Nigeria has failed to maximize and translate its abundant energy resources, including renewables into a detectable, securable transformative energy production and supply. This chapter argues explicitly that a transition to renewables is of critical importance for a secured and sustainable energy future in the country. The chapter, adopting an analytical method, examines renewable energy prospect for energy security in Nigeria, and how challenges to its exploitation can be overcome through inclusive and effective market policy strategies.