IMPACTS OF URBAN SPRAWL ON LAND USE ACTIVITIES IN OLUKU AXIS, BENIN CITY

ABSTRACT

This study examined the Impact of Urban Sprawl on Land Use Activities in Oluku Axis, Benin City. The objectives of the study were to examine the nature of sprawl in the study area; determine the impacts of sprawl on the different land uses in the study area; determine the extent to which sprawl affect agricultural land use; and suggest how to revert the negative impacts of sprawl in the study area. Questionnaires were administered to a total of 310 respondents across the study area. All the questionnaires were all returned valid for analysis and the data collected were fed into the SPSS version 24. The data were analyzed using the frequency table, pie charts and bar graphs.  Multiple Regression analytical technique was used to test the stated hypothesis. It  was found that the nature of sprawl in the Oluku axis of Benin City is the leapfrogging type. It was also discovered that urban sprawl  had an immense impact on land use activities in the study area. It was also ascertained from the study that the catalyst for urban sprawl in the study area is the increasing population.  The study recommends that proper planning measures should be put in place and strictly adhered to as this would forestall the problem of sprawl. Also recommended is that a framework for a political, regulatory and administrative approach should be put in place to effectively combat urban sprawl.