Abstract

The continual increase in the incidence of Petrol Filling Stations (PFSs) in Nigerian urban centers, and its intrusion of into residential and commercial hubs requires the intervention of landuse planning. It is against this background that this study investigates the incidence and landuse characteristics of PFSs in Ogbomoso Township. To achieve this, an inventory of PFSs in the Ogbomoso Township was made, where 48 PFSs were identified. Thereafter, a ring of 50 meters radius was delineated around each identified filling stations, and landuse characterization of the delineated area was done. Also, the road characteristics of abutting road to the PFS were obtained. To model the incidence of PFSs, another 15 rings of 50 meters radius were randomly delineated in areas without PFSs. Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between the incidence of Petrol Filling Stations (IPFS), Commercial Landuse Area (CLA), Residential Landuse Area (RLA) and Road Characteristics Index, while Multiple Regression Analysis was used to calibrate the relationship between IPFS, RLA, CLA and RCI. The study discovered that, out of the 48 identified PFSs, 89.6% are functional and 10.4% are not functional. With r= -0.755, p=0.000; there is a strong negative relationship between IPFS and RLA, thus indicating the gradual replacement of residential areas for PFSs. To predict the incidence of PFSs in any area in Ogbomoso town, the model PFSs= -0.734RLA – 0.518CLA – 0.093RCI was calibrated. The study concluded that with sustained economic growth in Ogbomoso Town, there will be an increase in incidence of PFSs and its continuous intrusion into residential and commercial hubs. It therefore recommended development control and introduction of incentives for reuse of abandoned PFSs.

Key Words: Landuse Planning, Petrol Filling Stations