Predictors of Urban Growth in Peri-Urban Neighbourhood of Minna, Niger State.

Abstract

The rapid expansion of cities in the 21st century is a cause for concern. More worrisome is the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas in the cities of developing countries and the associated housing deficit. Third world urbanisation is associated with unplanned development at the periphery of cities, thus engendering unapproved land use and land cover changes. This study is aimed at assessing the predictors of urban growth in peri-urban area of Minna, Nigeria, and the objectives are to examine the spatio-temporal change of peri-urban area of Minna from 1990 to 2020; identify factors responsible for urban expansion in the study area; and examine the relationship between these factors in the study area. This study relies on both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected through oral interviews and direct observation, while secondary data are through Landsat imageries and review of existing literature. Purposive sampling was used to select professionals for oral interview. The satellite imageries of 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2020 were used to determine the spatio-temporal change and were analyzed using remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) techniques. The study reveals that the main predictors of urban growth are shift from rental tenure to home ownership, cheap price of land, increase in household formation, rising living standards, low rent of housing, weak land use planning, proximity to place of work and Safe environment. The study, therefore recommends active and judicious implementation of land use plans; simplification of plan approval process; public enlightenment campaign on the need to obey planning regulations with strict penalties attached to contravention; and monitoring of town planning agencies by appropriate authorities in order to checkmate corruption.