Abstract:
The ancient city of Benin is one of the fastest growing cities in Nigeria that exemplifies some of the problems resulting from the processes of rapid urbanization and unplanned urban growth. One of such problem is the rise of urban sprawl. Urban sprawl is seen by most researchers as an unaesthetic and unplanned urban form that determines changes in both settlement patterns and processes in urban areas. Urban sprawl is considered an interesting spatial and socio-economic phenomenon due to its unpredictable nature. This has created challenges to governance and management of cities growth in the areas of sustainable development of the natural and built environments as well as human well-being. This thesis seeks to assess the concept of urban sprawl by highlighting the drivers, characteristics, cost and measurement in order to address its problems with particular reference to Obe-Utesi axis of Benin City, Nigeria. Questionnaires, review of existing documents and Thematic Landsat Images of Benin City are the data collection methods employed in this paper. This research is expected to serve as a reference database for further researches into the incidence of sprawl in urban centres in Nigeria. This thesis reveals amongst others that rapid urbanisation and technological advancement in the form of automobiles are some of the causes of urban sprawl. Further examination reveals that the rise of urban sprawl increases the size of the non-agricultural population. This thesis concludes by proposing the Compact City model as the sustainable alternative to urban sprawl.
