Legal Impediments Militating Against Access to Rural Electricity in Nigeria: Section 3 of the Land Use Act in Focus

Abstract

Achieving improved access to electricity for rural areas has proved difficult in Nigeria. The paper
focuses on the impact of section 3 of the Land Use Act on rural electricity access in Nigeria. It
adopts the doctrinal methodology of research and found that the definition of what makes an area
rural as contained in section 3 of the Land Use Act is vague, not comprehensive and is an
impediment to the attainment of improved rural electricity access. In conclusion, the paper argues
that for Nigeria to attain electricity for all there must be improved rural electricity access. The
paper recommends that for the purposes of improving rural electricity access section 3 of the Land
Use Act be amended to include features such as low population density, limited access to large
cities, traditional life style and long proximity to market and work in the determination of what
makes a location rural.