Analysis of the Effect of Urbanisation on Agricultural Land Use in Peri-Urban Ibadan

This study analyses the effect of urbanisation on agricultural land use in the peri-urban fringe of Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria. Ibadan's rapid spatial expansion has progressively converted farmland to residential and commercial uses in areas that were once productive agricultural zones, with significant implications for food security, farmer livelihoods, and the sustainability of urban expansion. The study combines satellite imagery analysis from Landsat data over a ten-year period with structured interviews conducted among 80 farming households in Ona-Ara, Lagelu, and Egbeda Local Government Areas. Land cover change detection analysis maps the conversion of agricultural land to built-up uses between 2013 and 2023. Household interviews document the nature of land acquisition pressures experienced by farmers, income changes, and adaptation strategies adopted in response to urbanisation. Findings show that approximately 3,400 hectares of agricultural land in the study area were converted to non-agricultural uses over the assessment decade, representing a 28 percent reduction in the farmed area. The majority of land sales are to private residential developers, with some government acquisitions for roads and institutions. Farmers who have sold land report positive short-term income effects but negative long-term livelihood outcomes as farming capacity declines. Recommendations include developing an agricultural land protection zone policy for Oyo State, providing conversion rights compensation to displaced farmers, and creating alternative livelihood programmes for agriculturally displaced peri-urban communities. Keywords: urbanisation, agricultural land, peri-urban, Ibadan, land conversion.