Effects of Population Increase on Peri-Urban Land Growth in Asa Local Government Area, Kwara State

Abstract

The rapid growth of world population and its agglomeration in cities and towns around the world is affecting the longterm outlook for humanity, in such that the process of urban growth and the effect at the peri-urban areas are universal, occurring all over the world. This study aimed at assessing the effects of population increase on the growth of periurban land in Asa local government area, Kwara State. Secondary data, via satellite imageries covering 2000, 2010 and 2021 were mainly used in analyzing the changes that occurred within twenty years. Remote sensing and GIS approaches to satellite imagery processing were adopted using ILWIS and ERDAS IMAGINE 9.2 software to subset the imageries, as well used for classification resampling. The result on built-up area reveals a consistence increase of over 80% between 2000 and 2021. The vegetation cover suffered a serious loss of vegetal land to the tune over 100 hectares due to various degree of development and expansion of the town. The water body also affected with loss in space covered with 80 hectares within the period under study. With a tremendous population increase, the study indicates a high demand for land and vegetal resources, which in turns possess a serious threat to food production. The study concludes that population increase remains the most significant determinant of peri-urban changes with a resultant effect on the wellbeing of peri-urban residents and rural dwellers. It therefore, recommends the adoption and application of strategic physical planning approach in the development of the peri-urban areas.