Comparative Analysis of Urban Environmental Challenges in Minna and Suleja,

Abstract

The fast rate of urban growth has brought an increased pressure on the available facilities and services beyond the reach of an average urban dweller and this is not without negative consequences. This study aimed at comparative analysis of the challenges of urbanization in Minna and Suleja. Landsat imageries of 1995, 2005, and 2015 of Minna and Suleja were classified and used to compare the changes in land use in Minna and Suleja. Population density ratio was used to compare the rise in population and its density in the study area. Linkert scale was used to compare the level of effect of the identified challenges in the study area, this also measured and compared the living condition in the study area. The result shows that the increase in the growth of the built up area in Minna at 6.70% in 1995 to 34.85% in 2015 is faster than in Suleja at 3.84% in 1995 to 17.32% in 2015, which implies that Minna has grown more than Suleja. The density of population in Suleja is rising faster than that of Minna over the years of study, with Suleja having a density of 11,161.93/km2 and Minna with a density of 10, 202.84/km2. The analysis of the urban challenges showed that the urban problems are more intense in Suleja than in Minna with Suleja falling between the scale of 1–1.5 (bad) and Minna between the scale of 1.51–2.4.9 (fair). Finally, the living standard in Minna is better than Suleja with Minna falling between the scale of 2.51–3.49 (good) and Suleja between the scale of 1.5–2.49 (fair). The research generally reveals that Suleja is exposed more to urbanization challenges than Minna. It is recommended that a metropolitan management board should be introduced to enforce the use of the master plan