CITIZEN’S RIGHT TO ACCESS TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY: A SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This paper is discussed under the following segments. The first segment considers an overview of Sub-Saharan African conventional energy access and sustainable energy access ; the second segment considers impacts of lack of access to modern energy in sub-Saharan Africa; the third segment examines social contract theory in relation to states contractual obligations of providing citizens with social amenities like energy complimentary to full enjoyment of constitutional rights to life, human dignity and property ownership .; the fourth segment interrogates Sub-Saharan African countries constitutional contractual obligations in relation to provision of energy services, Nigerian and South African examples were comparatively considered; the concluding segment, based on the on principles of social contract theory and the doctrine of accountability in democratic governance, makes appropriate recommendations.