IMPACTS OF URBANIZATION ON AGRICULTURAL LAND USE IN GWAGWALADA AREA COUNCIL ABUJA, NIGERIA

This work was to examine the consequences of Urbanization on Agricultural Land Use in Gwagwalada Area Council Abuja, Nigeria. Data for the study was obtained through administration of questionnaires, 150 respondents were administered, personal interview and field observation in the study area. The results obtained were quantified in percentage; the final result shows that agricultural land use in Gwagwalada is not only affected by rapid urbanization, but also by the level of soil fertility type of relief, labor and distances. Urbanization positively affects people's lives in Gwagwalada especially in terms of civilization and innovation. Some recommendations have been made todays tackling the negative effect of Agricultural land use changes in the area. An urban center is an agglomeration of people that are organized around non-agricultural activities and urban growth is the rate of growth of urban population. While urbanization is defined as the agglomeration of people in relatively large number at a particular spot of the earth surface. Urbanization in Nigeria and other developing countries have been very alarming over the past 10 years. This is as a result high rate of rural urban drift which has resulted to various problems like unemployment, poverty, flood, squatter settlements, pollution (Land, Air, Noise, Water and visual), slums over population , traffic congestion, crimes and food insecurity, in terms of infrastructural facilities, services, social amenities and heterogeneity economic activities in favor of urban centers. The attempt of this project is to examine the existing challenges and predict, future challenges or urbanization and urban growth in Nigeria, while measures to greatly minimize the challenges as suggested in order to ensure sustainable development in both the Nigerian urban centers and rural areas.