Legal and policy gaps in Nigeria’s renewable energy framework: a case for wave and tidal energy.

Coker, Babatunde

Abstract

Nigeria’s wave and tidal energy resources remain underdeveloped, unlike other renewable energy resources such as bioenergy, hydropower, solar and wind, which have witnessed limited development. In essence, the research problem is how to justify the necessity for harnessing wave and tidal energy resources in Nigeria and ultimately provide a legal framework to integrate wave and tidal energy into Nigeria’s overall renewable energy enactments. This thesis aimed to search for any gaps or inconsistencies in Nigeria’s RE enactments and its governance strategy concerning wave and tidal energy. The objective of the thesis was to identify and critically analyse Nigeria’s renewable energy enactments, related policies, and laws, with a specific focus on how they deal with wave and tidal energy. The research methodology and design utilised qualitative, doctrinal, and comparative approaches for desk-based data collection and data analysis of primary and secondary legal sources. The thesis also critically examined the enactments in Scotland, Canada (British Columbia and Nova Scotia), and South Korea for their best practices and lessons. This study found that Nigeria’s current enactments did not specifically address wave and tidal energy resources, and, as a result, Nigeria’s wave and tidal energy sector has not contributed towards electricity generation. Further, the study found gaps and inconsistencies within the renewable energy legal framework. Finally, this research highlighted lessons from jurisdictions with established ocean energy systems, specifically in wave and tidal energy. This research contributed to knowledge by filing the legislative and policy gaps of Nigeria’s renewable energy sector. It also identified some critical gaps in both literature and law, and proposed a legal framework for integrating ocean energy into Nigeria’s existing energy regime. This thesis laid a foundation for future academic, legal, and policy developments in Nigeria and similar coastal states in West Africa.

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jul 22, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 31, 2025
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.48526/rgu-wt-2934953
• Keywords: Wave and tidal energy; Renewable energy resources; Climate; Emission; Transition; Sustainable Development; Policy Nigeria
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2934953
• Award Date: Mar 31, 2025