AIR POLLUTION CONTROL IN SOUTH-EAST ZONE OF NIGERIA AS A SINE-QUA-NON FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE ZONE: LEGAL EVALUATION

Abstract

This paper explores the challenge of air pollution to the sustainable development of the South-East zone of Nigeria. Air pollution is the emission into the atmosphere of particulate matter and gases which have deleterious effects on human health, the ecosystem and the environment on which humankind depends. Its effects include nasal, eyes and airway  irritation,  and  even  lung  and  heart  problems.  Studies  show  that  air  pollution  is  currently  responsible  for more deaths in Africa than malnutrition or dirty water. With a geographical area of 29,088 square kilometers (km2) and a population of about 40 million, South-East has a high population density of 1375 per km2,whichis key factor for  air  pollution.  Under  this  condition  sustainable  development  of  the  zone  would  be  difficult  without  an  effective legalregime for air pollution control. This paper, thus, appraised the adequacy of the legal regime on air pollution control  in  South-East.  The  paper  is  divided  into  eight  parts:  (1)  introduction,  (2)theoretical  framework  of  key concepts, (3) problems of air pollution, (4) air pollutants and sources, (5) legal framework for air pollution control in Nigeria, (6) legal framework for air pollution control in South-East, and (7) effectiveness of the legal framework for  air  pollution  control  in  South-East.  The  last part  is  conclusion  and  recommendations.  The  finding  is  that  the legislations  on  air  pollution  control  in  the  zone  are  inadequate  and  so  law  review  is  recommended.  The methodology of the paper is doctrinal.