Spatio-Temporal Assessment of Land Use-Induced Urban Heat Characteristics on Ecosystem Services In Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State, Nigeria

Land use and land cover changes increase land surface temperature, resulting in biodiversity loss and urban heat. This study investigates the influence of land-useinduced urban heat characteristics on ecosystem services in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, with the aim of proposing measures to mitigate their effects and enhance human well-being. Both primary and secondary sources were utilised for data collection. One hundred and twenty-five questionnaires were administered to households and retrieved. Structured interviews were conducted with industries and stakeholders within the Lekki Free Trade Zone. The study evaluated and analysed the case study's land use and land cover (LULC) using multi-temporal Landsat imagery to determine land surface temperature (LST) and land use/land cover of the study area for 1986, 2002, 2015, and 2022. The findings reveal temperature variations associated with different land uses and land covers in Ibeju Lekki, indicating that the ongoing conversion of natural land cover to other uses contributes significantly to the increase in surface temperature. The study revealed that built-up areas increased significantly from 8.71% in 1986 to 28.12% in 2022, resulting in a substantial loss of vegetation. Variations and increased temperature from the thermal reflection of each land use and land cover in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, are also evident. The study suggests that converting natural land cover to other uses can significantly raise Ibeju Lekki's surface temperature, necessitating the implementation of green infrastructure. Therefore, this study recommends the provision of green infrastructure, such as urban tree canopies, parks, open spaces, and ecological landscaping, to mitigate surface temperatures in Ibeju Lekki, thereby alleviating health problems and hazards that often accompany rising temperatures.