Geospatial Analysis of Urban Metamorphosis and implication on Development Control in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Cities in developing countries experience rapid expansion, which has a negative effect on the aesthetic value of the city. This paper thus examined urban metamorphosis and development control with the specific objectives of assessing the physical development between 1986 and 2018 and assessing residents’ perceptions of development control regulation and challenges of development control enforcement as regards to road setbacks in Ile-Ife, Osun State. Landsat images were used to examine changes in the physical development (built-up) in Ile-Ife. A questionnaire and key informant interview were used to examine residents’ perceptions of development control regulation and the challenges of development control enforcement. The result showed that built-up area increased from 2760.05ha (94.81%) between 1986 and 2002 to 6843.41ha (120.67%) between 2002 and 2018, and 9603.46ha (329.87%) between 1986 and 2018. Between 1986 and 2018, a recorded annual magnitude and frequency of 9603.46ha and 600.22 ha were built up. The study revealed that 60% of the informants confirmed that the planning authorities were grappling with inadequate funds and inadequate technical and manpower, which had resulted in their inability to undertake planning activities. The study concluded that rapid development had negatively affected development control in the study area. It is therefore recommended that the government strengthen the planning authority, subsidize the cost of plan approval, and provide easy access to building permits.