By David Akinmola
A coalition of civil society actors and energy sector experts has called for a robust legal and regulatory framework to attract investment in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.
Speaking during a community and civil society engagement on the draft Cross River State Electricity Bill 2025, held in Abuja, the Country Manager of Natural Justice, Michael Keaniani, emphasised that legal clarity, consumer protection, and enabling policies are essential for encouraging private sector participation in energy generation and distribution.
“We want to see a legal and regulatory framework that incentivises investment in the energy sector, particularly in renewables. Investors seek certainty in the law. If the legal environment is conducive, they will come,” Keaniani stated.
He commended the innovative provisions within the draft Cross River State Energy Bill, describing it as a positive step towards energy sector reform.
However, he also highlighted areas of concern and stressed the need for careful legal scrutiny.
Keaniani revealed that the organisation has reviewed the draft bill before the House Committee on Power and submitted recommendations based on input from communities, sector experts, and advocacy groups.
“Our recommendations reflect the concerns of civil society, technical experts, and local communities. Electricity consumers in both rural and urban areas are too often burdened with the costs of basic infrastructure such as transformers, wiring, and energisation. This bill must contain provisions to protect consumers and address these persistent gaps,” he said.
The organisation also highlighted the need for a clearer policy framework on interstate electricity trading. While the draft bill addresses this issue, it notes that constitutional barriersrural and urban areas are too often burdened with basic infrastructure costs may still need to be resolved.
Additionally, the group emphasised the importance of rural electrification, urging lawmakers to ensure that energy policies prioritise access to affordable electricity for entire communities.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Power and Electricity, Francis Obang, assured stakeholders that the Assembly remained committed to delivering legislation that would strengthen the state’s energy sector.
“One of the major challenges we face is the vandalism of power infrastructure. This bill includes provisions to address that. Once enacted, it will ensure that offenders are prosecuted and that communities play a greater role in safeguarding these critical assets,” Obang said.
He acknowledged the technical contributions from Natural Justice and affirmed that the Assembly would continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure the final bill reflects the realities and energy needs of the people of Cross River State.
The draft Electricity Bill, which spans more than 100 pages, is expected to guide the state’s power sector operations in the post-national grid era, especially in light of the recent decentralisation of electricity regulation to Nigeria’s state governments.
