Urbanization Dynamics and Land Use Pattern in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria

The purpose of this research work is to critically examine the effects of urbanization dynamics on land use pattern in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria. In the study, a survey was carried out using questionnaire and oral interview. One set of structured questionnaire was designed and administered for the collection of primary data used for the study. 340 questionnaires were administered on the household heads in the urban fringes in Birnin Kebbi and subsequently used for analysis. Likert scale, urban growth rate formula and lands at imagery were used to analyze the primary data collected for the determination of the causes of urbanization and its effects on urban fringe land use pattern in the study area. Investigation indicated that the study area experienced urban expansion and this has affected the urban fringes. The effects are among others, the reduction in urban farm activities, increase in the cost of infrastructural development and transportation cost. The study provided vital information with respect to: provision of cost effective transportation to ease the problems of commuters, establishment of pragmatic institutions that will see to the effective land use control and management at the urban centres and peri-urban area, effective crime control mechanism at both urban centres and fringe areas so as to discourage the use of urban fringes as hideout for criminals. Research work on the subject of urban land uses in Nigeria mostly concentrated on the urban centres. This study extended the frontier of knowledge in this field by empirically assessing the effects of urbanization dynamics on the urban fringe land use pattern in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria