Abstract

Urban growth, particularly in the developing world is continuing to be one of the crucial issues of global change in the 21^st century affecting the physical dimensions of cities. The study examined the spatio-temporal pattern of urban growth in Lokoja town for a period of 19 years, using remote sensing data and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. Three different land cover maps derived from Landsat image of 2001, 2011, and 2020 were used to reveal the patterns and dynamics of urban growth in the study area. The result revealed that the city has been undergoing extensive urban growth processes. The growth has been from urban center to adjoining non-built-up areas mainly in the south west and in the north-western direction alongside major transportation corridors. The total built-up has grown from 1492.35 hectares in 2001 to 2890.85 hectares in 2011 and 5556.27 hectares in 2020 at a mean urban growth rate of 9.37%, and 10.24% from 2001-2011 and 2011-2020 respectively. The study was able to determine the present and future direction of growth of the town, with facts that the town is growing in the north-western and south-western direction with growth constraint in the north eastern part of the town, with same measure of physical development, in the next coming years, the town is expected to grow in a similitude direction as the present. The research recommends the development of more and well-articulated physical development plan. Authorities responsible for monitoring should encourage the use of remote sensing technique and GIS to monitor the growth of the city, there should be public enlightenment on the negative effects that slum areas have on their physical and social environment.

Key Words: Spatio-temporal, Pattern; Urban, Growth, Lokoja, Nigeria