Investigation of the Effects of Quarry Operations on Agricultural Land Use in Ogun State, South West Nigeria

The rapid expansion of quarry operations in Ogun State, South West Nigeria, has encroached significantly on agricultural land, generating land use conflicts and threatening food security in rural communities. This study investigates the spatial and socioeconomic effects of quarry operations on agricultural land use in Ewekoro and Sagamu Local Government Areas of Ogun State. A geographic information systems-based land use change analysis was conducted using satellite imagery from 2015 and 2023 to quantify agricultural land lost to quarrying. Field surveys and structured questionnaires were administered to 180 affected farmers to document livelihood impacts. Findings indicate a net loss of approximately 3,200 hectares of arable land to quarry expansion over the eight-year study period, with secondary impacts including disruption of irrigation water sources and siltation of farmland from quarry runoff. Household income among displaced farming households declined by an average of 42 percent following relocation. The study finds that compensation processes are inequitable and poorly structured, with land valuations frequently below market rates. Recommendations include mandatory agricultural impact assessments prior to quarry licence issuance, establishment of exclusion zones around farming communities, and binding compensation frameworks. This research provides empirical grounding for land governance reform in Nigeria's mining sector and advocates for integrated rural land use planning. Keywords: quarry operations, agricultural land, Ogun State, land use change, compensation.