Reflection On Nigeria’s Air Pollution Regulations With A View To Learning From The European Union

Abstract

The effects of air pollution on all people across the globe cannot be overemphasized. It is a phenomenon that needs urgent attention from all countries of the world. Serious efforts must be made to cut down the greenhouse gas emissions by all nations so as to reduce the menace of air pollution. Various countries including developed, developing and under developed are making efforts to tighten the control of pollution so as to ensure that the rate at which people are exposed to pollutants across their cities are reduced, but in spite of all these efforts, the level of pollution all over the world seems to be going higher, Nigeria inclusive. The level of pollution in Nigeria is still very high and there seems to be no solution around the corner. The World Health Organization (WHO) has noted that each year, air pollution is responsible for nearly seven million deaths around the globe. This shows the extent to which air pollution has wrecked and is wreaking havoc on the entire world. This article is necessary at this time as it has been noted that there is no concrete legal framework in Nigeria which addresses air pollution. The existing laws regarding environmental protection are grossly inadequate to take care of the level at which air pollution is ravaging Nigeria as a country; also, the existing laws lack enforcement mechanism. There is a need for the Nigeria government to come up with a standard and adequate law to tackle the menace of air pollution in Nigeria and the country must be ready to ensure that the laws made are adequately enforced. This article examines what air pollution is all about and its effects on human beings and the Nigeria environment at large bringing out lessons Nigeria can learn from the EU.