Spatial Assessment of Urban Growth in Selected Capital Cities of South-South Region of Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the urban growth in the selected capital cities (Asaba, Uyo and Port Harcourt) of South-south region of Nigeria. Landsat 5 TM of 1986, Landsat 7 ETM of 2000 and Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS of 30m x 30m were used and classified using supervised classification technique. The magnitude and trend of change and percentage change of landuse types were also determined. Findings revealed that in Port Harcourt, the built up area was 106.81 km^2, 176.62 km² and 205.89 km² in 1986, 2000 and 2020 respectively. In Uyo, built up area in 1986 was 37.89 km², and 46.89 km² in 2000 and 134.61 km² in 2020. However, in Asaba the built up area was 23.47 km², 38.03 km² and 65.08 km², in 1986, 2000 and 2020 respectively. Furthermore, the primary forest reduced drastically in the entire study area within the period of study. The study concluded that the selected capital cities in the South–south region has grown and expanded within 1986 and 2020. The study therefore recommended among others that enacting and implementation of government policy restraining individuals of illegal construction should be established, educating individuals on illegal acquisition of primary forest should be absolutely done; and periodic assessment of landuse change to discover the trend of change and to foresee the possible landuse change in future should be encouraged.