Case Review Attitude of Nigerian Courts Regarding Electricity as a Human Right: Revisiting Nwaka V. Abuja Electricity Distribution Company

Abstract

It has been argued that when it comes to human rights performance compared to other countries in 
Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria is performing worse than average. The Country scored 54.6per cent 
for the right to food, 48.7per cent for right to health, 35.7 per cent for the right to housing and 32.0 
per cent for the right to work.1 Nigerians are still struggling with poor electricity services; there is 
need to improve this situation. The Courts will be required to treat access to electricity as a form of 
human rights. This piece reviewed the decision of the court in Dr. N. Nwaka v. AEDC. It concludes 
by stating that the court adopted a narrowed view of the provisions of section 42 of the Constitution 
and argues that the court should subsequently adopt a broader view in ensuring that consumers can 
enforce access to electricity as a human right.