LAND USE/LAND COVER TRANSITIONS IN BENIN CITY AND IMPLICATIONS FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Benin City has witnessed tremendous increase in urban activities over the years, mainly due population increase. In 2006, the city recorded a population figure of 1,085,892 with a growth rate of 2.8 percent. However, by 2022, the Nigeria Population Commission projected population figure for Benin City at 1,841,000 at a growth rate of 3.31%. With rapid population growth and soaring urbanization, the city is now grappling with increased wastes generation and the need for improved waste management. This present study investigated the changing pattern of Land use/ Land Cover (LULC) in Benin and implication for MSW management. Landsat 7 and 8 thematic satellite imagery datasets were used in this study, and was sourced from the United State Geological Surveys (USGS) Earth Explorer platform. The analysis was based on satellite imagery classification covering five time periods: 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, with projections extended to 2025. Result showed that built-up area has continued to progress remarkably throughout the study period, demonstrating Benin City's rapid urbanization. Starting from 1,171 hectares (4% of the total area) in 2000, the built-up area expanded to 2,133 hectares (7%) by 2005, representing an 82% increase within five years. This upward trend continued consistently, reaching 2,866 hectares (9%) in 2010, 3,544 hectares (12%) in 2015, and 4,346 hectares (14%) in 2020. The projected 2025 figure of 5,229 hectares (17%) indicates that built-up areas will constitute nearly one-fifth of the total land cover. This expansion has resulted in growing pressure on public infrastructure, including municipal authority’s capacity to effectively manage solid waste. Indiscriminate dumping of waste has implications for GHGs emission, pollution, leachate contamination with serious concerns for public health. This study recommends the implementation of compact urban development strategies to reduce the urban footprint per capita as well as the establishment clear urban growth boundaries to prevent sprawl into environmentally sensitive areas, including illegal disposal of MSW in these areas of the city.