top of page

Energy Justice, Access and Transition in Nigeria

Love Alfred

Energy Justice and Multilevel Perspective Impact Assessment of Energy Access and Transition in Nigeria: A Mini-Grid Case Study.


People


Researcher

  • Dr Love Alfred

Essential Premise


A Multilevel Perspective (MLP) Framework can better enable a just and orderly transition in a manner that integrates small scale renewable energy producers and leaves no one behind.


Background


This study critiques emerging global strategies for promoting a just and sustainable energy transition through the lens of the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP). It argues that these international and national strategies need to recognise the justice gap of the transition when it comes to developing countries/contexts given past marginalisations and the already existing energy access issues.


The MLP framework stipulates that sociotechnical transitions, like the current energy transition (ET), which is the movement from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, occur across three interacting levels: landscape, regime, and niche. The landscape level of the MLP framework encompasses global and broad structural forces that shape the current ET. These include enduring Global North perspectives in international law, technological disparities, climate change, and macroeconomic trends that shape ET conditions. The regime comprises dominant systems and institutions that maintain existing path dependencies that resist change. For ET, this will include fossil fuel legal frameworks and businesses and market structures. Niches are protected spaces where radical renewable energy ideas/innovations can emerge and mature. These innovations require nurturing through investment, regulation, citizenship, and critical research to challenge entrenched regimes and enable change.


The MLP framework is relevant to the ET discourse, as it shows how transitions evolve across time, space, sectors, and communities, while also highlighting structural and institutional constraints. It is particularly relevant when analysed alongside associated justice and access led theories such as energy transition, energy justice, energy citizenship, and critical knowledge production. The thesis engaged these theories to reinforce the importance of fairness and justice across procedural, recognition, and distributive dimensions of government-led ET initiatives. In developing countries, where cost, access, and energy capacity are critical, supporting RE niches is essential, hence the need to frame government ET strategies through the MLP lens.


Underscoring these social justice concerns embedded within current transition strategies, this research adopts a critical approach to advancing a Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) that integrates energy justice norms. It draws on case studies from developing countries, as well as international and domestic transition laws and policies for this analysis. It seeks to enrich understanding of the challenges facing renewable energy transitions—particularly the introduction of mini grid systems, while critiquing dominant framework gaps and institutional barriers.


This research is novel because the insights and implications of sociotechnical transitions are rarely integrated into transition strategies of government particularly how these may further re-entrench energy access challenges. This gap is especially evident when considering the power and limitations of governance strategies in promoting equitable transitions. This study is the first to emphasize the justice dimensions of energy transitions by using mini grids in developing countries as a case study. It provides an extension of work to date on transition theory by incorporating perspectives from developing contexts.


Aims/Objectives


The first overarching objective of this research is to portray the multidimensional nature of developing countries’ energy crisis. Second, to advance a multilevel governance of renewable energy projects to ensure a just, inclusive, and orderly energy transition in developing countries. In pursuing these objectives, this research engages with the dynamics of sociotechnical transitions, the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP), and examines how associated theories of energy justice and energy citizenship fit within the MLP. Achieving these objectives requires a thorough examination of the social justice implications inherent in the current energy transition and the importance of a formalised policy approach in tackling ‘unjust’ transition.


Thus, the central question this research seeks to answer is: to what extent can multilevel governance of renewable energy projects ensure a just transition in developing contexts?


Methods


This research employs socio-legal, desk-based methods, including documentary analysis of Nigeria’s major energy transition (mini grids) initiatives, projects, and policy objectives. These materials are examined to identify gaps and establish a niche and purpose for the study. This research extends transition theory by incorporating a mini grid case study situated within the context of developing countries. Second, it critiques energy transition strategies for justice gaps, particularly where current approaches risk re-entrenching marginalization in developing contexts. Third, it offers a critical examination of the sociotechnical transition regime and landscape, assessing their influence on niche mini grid projects and exploring the role—and inherent limitations—of law in governing these processes. Fourth, it critiques the overlooked role of non-state actors in tackling sociotechnical and justice issues in energy transitions across developing countries.


Outcomes


Publications

  • Alfred, L., ‘A Just Energy Transition Through the Lens of Third World Approaches to International Law’ (2023) Opolskie Studia Administracyjno-Prawne, 21(2), 9–41. https://doi.org/10.25167/osap.5258 PlumX

  • UPR Project at BCU, Pace University, University of Worcester USA Joint Submission Storey A., Mguli, S., Richardson-Oakes, A., Athar, S., Oleschuk, M., Alfred, L., Di Gioia, I., Lane, M., Nazir, A., Yorke, J., Cooper, S., Griffin, L. & Smyth, R. (2025)

  • UPR Project at BCU University of Worcester Pace University USA Cycle Four Stakeholder Submission.pdf

  • Sustainability in Legal Education: Developing Employable and Sustainability-conscious Legal Professionals (Funding Application)

Presentations

  • Love Alfred, ‘Reimagining Energy Justice (EJ) for Sustainable Energy Development and Transition – The Case of Nigeria’. Paper Presented at Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law, and Policy (CEPMLP) – University of Dundee. (2021)

  • Love Alfred, ‘Opportunities and challenges of embracing renewable energy in Africa?’ International Conference on Environmental Law, Governance & Sustainable development, Afe-Babalola University – Nigeria. (5 May 2022).

  • Love Alfred, Environmental stewardship, and the use of faith-based organisations as proxies for soft law approaches towards green energy investments and transitions.” Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA) Annual Conference 2023.

  • Love Alfred, ‘The Sustainable Development Goals and the Multi-Level Perspective’ at the Center for Human Rights Birmingham City University (November 2025)


Get Involved


To get involved, contact: Love.Alfred@bcu.ac.uk

bottom of page