Land Use and Land Cover Dynamics of Tertiary Institutions as Growth Poles in Zaria Urban Area, Nigeria
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Tertiary institutions are increasingly recognised as important drivers of urban land transformation and spatial development. The study examines the land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics associated with tertiary institutions in the Zaria Urban Area (ZUA), Kaduna State, Nigeria. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing techniques, multi‑temporal spatial data covering the period 1924–2024 were analysed to examine institutional land acquisition and built‑up development. The results show that Zaria Urban Area currently hosts 23 tertiary institutions. Institutional land acquisition increased to 10,825.22 hectares over the study period, representing significant spatial expansion, with only about 32.88% of the acquired land having been developed into built‑up areas. However, residential and circulation accounted for the largest proportions of campus development with 29.26% and 29.53%, respectively, demonstrating that tertiary institutions function as growth poles that influence urban spatial development and land transformation within Zaria. Based on these facts, the study recommended that KADSUPDA should develop institutional land‑use planning frameworks, strengthening collaboration between KADSUPDA and tertiary institutions, promoting sustainable campus development strategies, and integrating institutional expansion into urban master planning.
Author: Baba E. Bahago
Institution: University of Jos
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7212149575