Monitoring urban thermal stress and forest resilience for climate change mitigation in megacities, Northwest, Nigeria

High rate of urban population growth and various human activities have been progressively reducing the amount of green infrastructure and forest cover in metropolitan areas, which has exposed various landscapes to high surface temperatures. This study investigates the influence of nature-based strategies in mitigating land surface temperature (LST) in Kano and Sokoto cities, Northwest, Nigeria. The land use/land cover changes (LU/LC), land surface temperature (LST), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were considered over 30 years periods. LANDSAT 4 and 5 TM; LANDSAT 7 and LANDSAT 8 OLI imageries were obtained from the US Geological Survey. The optical bands of Landsat 4–5 Thematic Mapper (TM), Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+), and Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager/Thermal Infrared Sensor (OLI/TIRS) were used to retrieve the land use indices, while the thermal bands were used to retrieve the LST. There was reduction in vegetation cover over time in both cities, as indicated by the normalized difference vegetation index values. The findings emphasized the need for decentralized planning, effective urban forest management, and urban greening initiatives to mitigate the adverse effects of urbanization on vegetation cover and LST. Policies and enforcement measures are recommended to manage rural-urban migration and develop urban master plans that priorities green infrastructure. The study contributes to understanding the dynamics of urban landscapes in Nigerian cities and provides insights for sustainable urban development in combating climate change.