IMPACT OF URBANIZATION ON LANDUSE IN FCT, ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abstract

In the next decade, there will be about 2 billion new city residents, accounting for around 60% of the world’s population. FCT, Abuja-Nigeria, a fast developing nation, is already embalmed with the consequent challenges, leading to a more severe damage on the fragile natural resources and the ecosystem. This review paper, is intended to incite FCT policy makers, urban planners, environmentalists, developmental economists and sociologists with a view to awakening them towards living up to their responsibilities in curtailing the catastrophes that the country is heading to, as a result of the problem. It was written based on reviews of related literatures, observations and personal experiences of the authors and reviewed current trends of urbanization in FCT, Abuja-Nigeria, various types of major land-uses in the country as well as the major impacts of urbanization as they affect biodiversity, ecosystem, the society, soil and water.  The paper traced most of the urban problems in the country to rural inadequacies, compelling the poor and vulnerable who find life intolerable in the rural areas to migrate to the cities to enjoy city life and developments that are being guided by economic, rather than environmental benefits. As a succour to the impacts, the paper recommends the principles of preservation of ecological integrity, efficient and appropriate land-use, healthy living conditions, efficient and effective socio-economic and government institutions, improved welfare and physical structures and adapted landscapes of pleasing designs.