URBAN SPRAWL ANALYSIS AND ITS IMPACT ON AGRICULTURAL LAND IN OYO TOWN, OYO STATE.

This study investigates the dynamics of urban sprawl and its impact on agricultural land within the Oyo Town, Oyo State, Nigeria. The study area encompasses Oyo East, Atiba, Afijio, and Oyo West Local Government Areas. Multi-temporal Landsat satellite imageries from 2002, 2013, and 2024 were analyzed using ArcGIS 10.8 to assess spatial and temporal land-use and land-cover changes. The major land-use classes identified include built-up areas, Waterbody, farmland, vegetation, and bare surfaces. Supervised classification and change detection techniques were applied to quantify these transformations over the study period. Findings revealed a remarkable increase in built-up areas, particularly along major transport corridors, coupled with a steady decline in agricultural and vegetated lands. This trend reflects rapid urbanization driven by population growth, infrastructural expansion, and socio-economic development. The loss of farmland has led to reduced agricultural productivity, loss of rural livelihoods, soil degradation, and increased environmental risks such as flooding and erosion. The study concludes that uncontrolled urban expansion has significantly encroached on agricultural land, threatening food security and environmental sustainability in the region. It recommends the implementation of effective land-use planning, urban growth control, and sustainable agricultural policies to ensure a balanced relationship between urban development and agricultural preservation.