Urban Sprawl Impact on environmental sustainability in Minna, Niger State Nigeria

Abstract

Urbanization is a global phenomenon which is not just a manifestation, but also an engine of change on how humans use and view the environment. Thus, major and minor cities in many developing countries, especially in sub-Sahara Africa, are experiencing rapid urbanization and have immensely contributed to urban sprawl. In Minna urban sprawl has been increasing with emerging environmental issues and rapidly decaying urban infrastructure consequently raising concern for environmental sustainability. This research evaluates its effects on the environment and predicted its future pattern of occurrence by integrating Remote Sensing, GIS tools, Shannon’s Entropy, field survey, personal interviews, existing literatures and personal experience. It was discovered that urban sprawl can be linked to pollution, increased energy consumption, increased greenhouse gas emissions, loss of green space, soil infertility, land use fragmentation, urban heat island and loss of biodiversity in the study area, while the map algebra module of ArcGIS was used to predict the future pattern of urban sprawl occurrence. It was discovered that the rate of urban sprawl occurrence will remain constant with that of 2017 by 2027; as a result urban sprawl is expected to become concentrated and compact in the study area, with increasing signs of decaying urban infrastructure, land degradation, loss of biodiversity, soil infertility urban heat island, indiscriminate disposal of waste which can increase the risk of flooding, water pollution and can also serve as disease vectors. The need for Proper environmental management is paramount to the sustainability of the environment, as this research provides information about the future environmental effects of urban sprawl and its pattern of occurrence which will help environmental managers in decision making.