Spatio-temporal analysis of urban growth pattern and land use compliance in Ijebu Ode, Nigeria

The proliferation of urban expansion and non-compliance to development permit in Nigerian secondary cities made the quantitative assessment of this menace becomes imperative for sustainable land management. Thus, this study determined the pattern of urban growth and its impacts on the structure of Ijebu Ode, Nigeria. The study employed primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected through questionnaire administration on 200 residents and 20 town planning officers in the study area, using multi-stage and convenience sampling techniques, respectively. Ground Control Points (GCPs) were collected with the aid of a GPS receiver through field observation. Secondary data were collected through satellite imagery acquisition of Landsat 5 (1986), Landsat 7 (2000), Landsat 8 (2015), and Landsat 9 (2020). Data were analysed using geospatial principles, percentage distribution, neighbourhood analysis, and weighted index. Findings revealed that built-up areas upsurged by 19.2% while cultivated land and bare land decreased by 24.9% and 8.1% respectively over the study periods, thereby showing a challenge in effective development control, culminating in unplanned urban sprawl. Main factors underlying these land use changes were proximity to areas supporting new businesses (WI = 3.02, MD = 0.04), nearest markets/major roads/city centre (WI = 3.21, MD = 0.23), and regional land use structure/management practices (WI = 3.23, MD = 0.25). These underlying factors were determined using the Relative Weighted Index (RWI). The current structure of Ijebu Ode was mapped based on the identified land uses, which showed a unique clustering pattern (Rn > 0.40, P ≤ 0.05). Hence, the potential impact of LULC change on the settlement structure showed a tendency for slum creation and urban sprawl in the study area.