Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Land Use Change in Uyo Capital City, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the spatio-temporal dynamics of land use changes in Uyo Capital City, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Over a twenty-years period from 2003 to 2023. Utilizing multi temporal satellite imagery from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and geospatial techniques through ERDAS Imagine software and ArcMap, the satellite images transform the raw satellite data through, image enhancement, layer stacking, mosaicking, image classification. Land use change detection was done using post classification comparison. the study classified the urban landscape into four primary classes: forest, agricultural land, water bodies, and built-up areas. The empirical findings reveal a pronounced, urbanization-driven transition across the study area. Built-up environments experienced a massive expansion, increasing from 9,099.98 hectares in 2003 to 15,083.90 hectares in 2023, representing a net gain of 5,983.92 hectares. This rapid urban growth occurred at the direct expense of natural and ecological ecosystems. Specifically, agricultural land shrank significantly by 3,001.70 hectares, dropping from 10689.60 hectares in 2003 to 768790 hectares in 2023, Forest cover declined by 2,768.89 hectares dropping from 8300.69 hectares in 2003 to 5531.80 hectares in 2023, signaling extensive deforestation and peri-urban encroachment. Water bodies also exhibited a minor reduction of 213.33 dropping from 5579.59 hectares in 2003 to 5366.26 in 2023, indicating anthropogenic pressures on local hydrological networks. The near equilibrium between built-up expansion and the aggregated loss of green infrastructure highlights a trajectory of direct land conversion and weak institutional land-use controls. The study concludes that unchecked urban expansion in Uyo threatens regional food security, intensifies the urban heat island effect, degrades ecosystem services, and heightens local flood risks. Consequently, the study recommends the urgent integration of proactive geospatial monitoring systems, stricter enforcement of urban planning regulations, and the adoption of sustainable land management policies to balance demographic pressures with ecological preservation.