LEGAL CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION: AN IMPERATIVE FOR SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIALIZATION IN AFRICA

Abstract

Industrialization obviously holds the prospects of a better economy for Africa. It provides employment and goods to the  teaming  population  of  the  continent  and  so  combats  poverty.  But  these  prospects  are  greatly  threatened  if  air pollution associated with industrialization is not checked. Air pollution causes among other thingsnasal, eyes and airway  irritation,  and  even  lung  and heart  problems.  Studies  show  that  air  population  is  currently  responsible  for more deaths in Africa than malnutrition or dirty water.The methodology of the paper is doctrinal and the approach is expository.Thus, this paper inquired into the legal regime for air quality enhancement and air pollution control in Africa.Environmental pollution control is to a good extent tied to economy to the effect that wealthier nations are endowed with greater capabilities for more effective pollution control. From this background this paper focuses on the  legal  regimesair  pollution  control  in  the  four  leading  economies  in  Africa:  Nigeria,  South  Africa,  Egypt  and Ethiopia.  The  paper  examines  the  international  legal  instruments on  air  pollution  control  ratified  by  African countries in general andthe municipal regimes of these four economies on air pollution control.  Air pollution has deleterious  effects  on  human  health.  The  legislations  especially  in  Nigeria  are  rarely  enforced and  effective. Economic development is not complemented with adequate environmental protection and particularly, air pollution control and thus not sustainable. The recommendation is that African countries should go beyond creating the legal and  institutional  regimes  on  air  pollution  control  to  seeing  that  these  regimes  are  effectively  operative.  The methodology of the paper is doctrinal