Esther Nkechinyere Chimeziri

Justification of Selected Program: MSc Geography 1. Central Theme and Research Problem In an era marked by climate change, urban expansion, and environmental degradation, the discipline of Geography plays a pivotal role in shaping sustainable development strategies and informing spatial planning decisions. The MSc in Geography offers an opportunity to deepen understanding of human-environment interactions and geographic information systems (GIS) applications. The central theme of this research is “Urban Expansion and Land Use Change: A Geospatial Analysis of the Lagos Megacity.” Research Problem: The rapid urbanization of Lagos has led to unregulated land use changes, increased environmental stress, and informal settlements. There is a lack of spatial data-driven policy frameworks to guide land use and sustainable urban planning. This study aims to use GIS and remote sensing tools to evaluate the spatiotemporal patterns of land use changes and provide data-backed recommendations for planning and environmental policy. 2. Delimitation and Justification of the Object of Study The study is geographically focused on the Lagos metropolitan area, with temporal data spanning the years 2000 to 2025. This urban landscape has experienced one of the highest growth rates in sub-Saharan Africa, making it a relevant case for land use and urban expansion studies. Justification: • Lagos is the most populous city in Nigeria, facing mounting challenges in land management, waste control, and spatial planning. • Geospatial analysis offers an objective approach to understanding urbanization trends and ecological impact. • Findings can influence policy formulation, urban masterplans, and sustainable development goals (SDGs). 3. Literature Review Urbanization and Land Use: According to Seto et al. (2011), global urban expansion has transformed land use, reducing green cover and increasing impermeable surfaces. Nigeria has mirrored this trend, especially in Lagos, where the population boom correlates with ecological degradation and poor planning practices. Remote Sensing and GIS: As explained by Jensen (2016), GIS and remote sensing technologies provide an accurate methodology for monitoring, analyzing, and predicting spatial and environmental changes over time. They are essential for informed decision-making in urban and environmental planning. Land Use in Lagos: Adelekan (2010) notes that much of Lagos' urban growth has been unplanned, leading to vulnerability to flooding, slum expansion, and loss of wetlands. Geospatial studies are scarce, and existing data often lacks precision. Policy Implications: Ajayi and Oduwaye (2019) advocate for integrating GIS-based land analysis into Nigeria’s urban planning framework to improve policy responsiveness and reduce the negative consequences of informal development. 4. Methodological Approach Philosophy: The study adopts a positivist paradigm, emphasizing objectivity and data-driven conclusions. The research will use a quantitative approach supported by spatial tools. Design: A geospatial temporal analysis will be conducted to map, monitor, and quantify land use changes in Lagos between 2000 and 2025 using Landsat satellite imagery and ArcGIS software. Data Sources: - Landsat satellite images (2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020, 2025) - Ground-truthing data and planning documents from Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning Authority Data Analysis: - Image pre-processing and classification using supervised classification in ArcGIS - Change detection analysis to determine urban expansion patterns - Spatial overlay to assess impact on wetlands, green areas, and informal settlements Ethical Considerations: All secondary data sources will be acknowledged. Primary ground data collection will follow ethical guidelines of voluntary consent and confidentiality where applicable. 5. Timeline Phase Activity Duration Month 1–2 Review of Literature & Proposal Draft 2 months Month 3 Acquisition of Satellite Data & Software Setup 1 month Month 4–5 Image Pre-processing & Classification 2 months Month 6–7 Ground-truthing & Field Validation 2 months Month 8 Change Detection & Data Analysis 1 month Month 9–10 Interpretation of Results & Report Writing 2 months Month 11 Review & Formatting 1 month Month 12 Final Submission & Defense 1 month 6. Bibliographic References Adelekan, I. O. (2010). Vulnerability of poor urban coastal communities to climate change in Lagos, Nigeria. Environment and Urbanization, 22(2), 433–450. Ajayi, A., & Oduwaye, L. (2019). GIS-Based Analysis for Sustainable Land Use Planning in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Environmental Sciences and Technology, 3(2), 120–135. Jensen, J. R. (2016). Introductory Digital Image Processing: A Remote Sensing Perspective. Pearson. Seto, K. C., Güneralp, B., & Hutyra, L. R. (2011). Global forecasts of urban expansion to 2030 and direct impacts on biodiversity and carbon pools. PNAS, 109(40),-.