Urban land-use dynamics and changing landscapes in Kano, Nigeria (1950–2020)

Abstract

Kano is one of the rapidly urbanizing cities of sub-Saharan Africa, characterized by a growing population, sprawling development, and weak planning controls. Understanding the city’s land-use dynamics is vital for its sustainability. This study examines the decadal land-use dynamics of the Municipality, between 1950 and 2020. Using unsupervised classification, topographic sheets, and multi-date satellite imagery, the city’s growth patterns were quantified geospatially. The results show that Kano expanded from 27.50 km 2 in 1950 to 355.25 km 2 in 2020, an increase of 1,192.73% over 7 decades, and the average annual growth rate of 3.71%. The highest growth was recorded between 1975 and 1990 (72.75 km 2 to 162.00 km 2 ), with an annual growth rate of 5.53%, while the slowest growth was recorded between 1990 and 2000 (1.66% per year). Corridor-based analysis reveals pronounced variability, with the Kano–Panshekara (5.47%), Kano–Gwarzo (4.95%), and Kano–Dawanau (3.13%) corridors emerging as the fastest-growing axes, while Kano–Hadejia–Nguru (1.52%) and Fanisau (1.08%) corridors record lower growth. The study concludes that transportation development has played a significant role in shaping Kano Municipality’s spatial expansion. It also highlights the need to integrate transport investment with land-use planning, infrastructure provision, and environmental management to promote a more connected, resilient, and sustainable urban system.