URBAN TRANSFORMATION AND ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN GWAGWALADA, F.C.T., ABUJA.

Abstract

Abstract Population growth and migration has been asserted as the major driver of urbanization, with 2.8% annual growth rate and 5.5% per annum of urban areas in Nigeria and studies have asserted the concentration of urban population in the periphery of the Nigeria cities, all these attributes make urban transformation state in Nigeria to be of great concern. Transportation was noted as an integral tool for city development and functioning, and without adequate provision of transportation infrastructure in urban transformation processes, sprawl settlements will evolve. Abuja the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria conceived in 1976 based on the Newtown concept and central place theory was planned with the incorporation of satellite towns to accommodate envisage growth from the main city. After the movement of Nigeria's capital seat to Abuja city in 1991, the city has been recorded to be experiencing rapid growth including the satellite towns. Poor planning of the Cities and deplorable state of Infrastructures among others has been identified as challenges of urban growth in Nigeria. The study investigates land-use changes in respect to road infrastructure transformation in Gwagwalada Township, Gwagwalada Area Council of Abuja. The study is based on geospatial analysis of existing Gwagwalada township base map including acquired 1m resolution IKNOX satellite imagery of 2019, 2009 and 1999 were used to prepare updated cadastral maps for urban expansion and transportation growth analysis and ASTRA satellite imagery was acquired for land use land cover analysis for 2019, 2009, and 1999. The analysis shows that there is spatial growth in Gwagwalada Township without corresponding growth in the transportation network. There is a high disparity in the level of urban growth and transportation infrastructure in the study area, hence the need for intervention for the development of road networks to save the satellite settlement from turning into sprawl.

Keywords: settlement, sprawl growth, development, city