Spatiotemporal Analysis of Land-Use/Land-Cover Change and Environmental Impacts of Urbanization in Minna Metropolis (2000–2020)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47514/kjg.2026.08.01.061Keywords:
Population Growth, Urbanization, Land Use Land Cover Change, Remote Sensing, Minna Metropolis, Environmental HealthAbstract
Rapid population growth and urbanization are transforming Minna Metropolis, the capital of Niger State, Nigeria, with significant consequences for land use, environmental quality, and public health. This study examined the effects of these processes between 1990 and 2020 using a mixed-methods approach. Multi-temporal Landsat imagery (1990, 2005, and 2020) was classified via Maximum Likelihood Classification in ArcGIS 10.8 into five land-use/land-cover classes, and change statistics were derived; 500 structured household questionnaires were also administered across five principal wards, of which 479 valid responses were analysed. Built-up area expanded from 1,904.4 ha (7.76%) in 1990 to 5,088.78 ha (20.75%) in 2020, while vegetation cover fell from 32.79% to 4.47% and agricultural land contracted from 51.81% to 38.38% over the same period. Expansion was spatially concentrated around institutional growth poles, notably the relocation of the Federal University of Technology to Gidan Kwano and the establishment of the NECO headquarters, indicating that institutional siting decisions, not just demographic pressure, are shaping the city's sprawl pattern. Survey findings revealed inadequate drainage infrastructure, widespread indiscriminate solid-waste disposal, and a high prevalence of malaria (82.9%), pointing to deteriorating sanitary conditions linked to unplanned expansion. The study recommends strict enforcement of the existing master plan around institutional growth nodes, routine satellite-based monitoring of land-cover change, targeted investment in drainage and waste-management systems, and mandatory environmental impact assessment for new peri-urban development.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Hassan Suleiman, Isah Jibril Masha, Hassan Alhaji Ibrahim, Mohammed Abdulkadir (Author)
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