Eleventh International Conference on The Constructed Environment

Abstract

This study is aimed at assessing the implication of land use conversion on environmental quality in phase 1 of Abuja city. There were 1240 respondents and 30 government officials who participated in the interview session. Three forms of environmental deterioration namely waste generation, traffic volume, and land use conversion were studied in relation to population growth in Federal Capital Territory. The Spearman correlation indicated that there is a strong relationship between population growth and traffic generation at 0.741 (74.1%) significance level. Also, there is a strong relationship between population growth and land use conversion at 0.897 (89.7%) and there is a strong relationship between population growth and waste generation at 0.940 (94.0%) significance level. The study reveals the factors responsible for land use conversion to include population growth, high rent returns, accessibility, high land value, rapid growth and high rent returns which leads to traffic congestion, overcrowding, waste generation, poor aesthetic quality of the environment, and insecurity. Past government efforts were appraised and possible corrective efforts in improving the standard and quality of social facility is suggested. Provision of infrastructure in the other phases of the capital city and satellite settlements to attract people away from the city centre, effective development control mechanism, and stiffer fines introduced with guidelines and pubic enlightenment and feedback mechanism. Others include review of the land use conversion approval order and public participation in the implementation of these plans, establishment of litigation unit to enforce law and regulations concerning land use conversion in the city.