ASSESSMENT OF LANDUSE AND LANDCOVER OF KEFFI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was carried out to analyze the Landuse and Landcover of Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The methodology used to achieve the objectives in this research were Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems. Various methods of data analysis were used during data analysis – Earth Resources Data Analysis System (ERDAS) Imagine, Leica Geo Office, Environment for Visualizing Images (ENVI), ESRI Aeronautical Reconnaissance Coverage Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS) 10.4 and Microsoft Excel 2013 software packages. Findings from the study revealed that, there is a considerable increase of population in the study area, leading to increase in Built-up areas and its effects on other LULC categories. Agricultural land witnessed a decrease from 91.21 kilometre square (62.79%) to 86.91 kilometre square (59.84%) between 1995 and 2005, with magnitude changes of 28.42 kilometre square and annual change rate of 2.842 kilometre square. Thereafter, it decreased from 86.91 kilometre square (59.84%) to 57.09 kilometre square (39.31%) between 2005 and 2015 with magnitude changes of 29.82 kilometre square and annual change rate of 2.981 kilometre square respectively. With decreased Agricultural Lands and increased population, food scarcity is bound to happen. Built-Up areas increased from 13.53 kilometre square (9.32%) to 25.08 kilometre square (17.27%) between 1995 and 2005, with magnitude changes of 11.55 kilometre square and annual change rate of 1.155 kilometre square. Further increase from 25.08 kilometre square (17.27%) to 64.21 kilometre square (44.21%) was witnessed between 2005 and 2015, with magnitude change of 39.23 kilometre square and annual change rate of 3.923 7.29. Other LULC Categories of Vegetation, Rock Outcrops and Wetlands experienced significant decreases between 1995 and 2015. The use of geospatial techniques and technologies in the study of LULC change in Keffi revealed an increase in Built-up areas due to continuous expansion, massive construction work, wide spread commercialization of local economy and rapid urbanization of the area as a result of the establishment of Nasarawa State University. Based on the research findings, there is therefore the need for Nasarawa State Government to equip the planning authorities and other Ministries involved in decision making with adequate spatial data to ensure broad based decisions.