Nigeria's energy policy: Inferences, analysis and legal ethics toward RE development Oluseyi O. Ajayi a,n , Oluwatoyin O. Ajayi b a Mechanical Engineering Department, Covenant University, P.M.B. 1023, Ota, Nigeria b Faculty of Law, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria HIGHLIGHTS  The study exposed the energy policy issues of Nigeria.  The various policy documents and the energy statement of vision 20:2020 were surveyed.  Various challenges impinging growth or renewable energy were highlighted.  Some suggestions for policy reformation were proposed. article info Article history: Received 14 September 2012 Accepted 27 May 2013 Available online 19 June 2013 Keywords: Energy policy Environment Nigeria abstract The study critically assessed the various policy issues of sustainable energy development in Nigeria. The basic focus was to discuss and analyze some of the laws of the federation as it relates to the development of Renewable Energy in Nigeria. It surveyed the nation's energy policy statement and the vision 20:2020 of the federal government. The Renewable Energy Master Plan developed by the joint efforts of the Energy Commission of Nigeria and United Nations Development Programs were also appraised. The level of development and the index of renewable energy production as stated by the policy statement, the vision 20:2020 and the Renewable Energy Master Plan were highlighted. The study found some policy challenges which include weak government motivation, lack of economic incentives, multiple taxations, non-existent favorable customs and excise duty act to promote renewable energy technologies. Further to this, some legal reforms which may aid the promotion of renewable energy development in Nigeria and also make robust the nation's energy policy were proposed. Some of the laws that require amendment to promote renewable energy include the land use act, environmental impact assessment decree and the investment laws of the federation of Nigeria. & 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Energy has been defined as the ability to do work (Tippens, 2001). It is a force multiplier that enhances man's ability to convert raw materials to finished and usable goods (Ajayi and Ajanaku, 2009). The interdependence between energy availability, its sup- ply, demand and utilization is one of the factors that control national development vis-à-vis population explosion and/or rural– urban integration (Hermann, 2001; Ajayi et al., 2011a). Based on this, efforts are always geared toward seeking ways of producing sufficient energy for the populace. Such ways include those that produce from modules that are both sustainable and efficient. However, two sources of energy production exist. These are the renewable and non-renewable energy sources. The most com- monly employed of these have been the non-renewable sources of nuclear and fossil fuels origin. The utilization of non-renewable energy sources proved to be adequate but the byproducts are deleterious to humans and the environment. Sustainable electricity production is however hinged on employing the Renewable Energy (RE) sources. These include small and large scale hydropower, wind, solar, geothermal and biomass. The sources are found to be environment friendly, readily available and easily applicable. In addition to this, various inter- national debates on sustainable development have favoured energy production from renewable sources. Many international and regional declarations also favoured increasing generation from RE sources. For instance, the European Union ratified the Kyoto protocol in her framework accord of eliminating greenhouse gas emission level of 1990 by 20%. It desired to make renewable Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol Energy Policy 0301-4215/$ - see front matter & 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2013.05.095 n Corresponding author. Tel.: +234 803 6208899. E-mail addresses: oluseyi.ajayi@covenantuniversity.edu.ng, seyi_ajayi@yahoo.com.au (O.O. Ajayi). Energy Policy 60 (2013) 61–67