Awareness of the Impact of Urbanization on Land Use Change in Yenagoa Metropolis, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Urbanisation is imminent especially in a city with high expectation of expanding due to its function as an administrative area in which Yenagoa is not exempted. This study therefore examined the knowledge and awareness of the residents on the impacts of urbanisation on land use change in Yenagoa Metropolis. Five hundred and sixty copies of the questionnaire were administered to elicit information on the perception of residents on the impacts of urbanisation on other land use types. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for the data analysis in the study. Findings showed that the majority perceived that population increase, job opportunities and infrastructural developments are the major factors responsible for the development in Yenagoa while increases in the cost of living, poor standard of living, and increase in crime are the challenges of development in Yenagoa. However, 39% of respondents agreed that forest was the highest land cover in the past 20 years while 60.2% agreed that the built-up area was the highest at present land cover. They concluded that the public is adequately aware of the effects of urbanisation on other land use types and there were no designed ways of getting out of the problem. It is therefore recommended among others that a campaign against deforestation should be encouraged and sensitizing people on the effects of improper land use change should also be established and maintained.