2025 Vol-5 Issue-2 | MAPPING LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGES AND IMPLICATIONS ON SUSTAINABILITY OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS IN THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRIORY ABUJA, NIGERIA

Information on land use and land cover dynamics is an invaluable tool for decision making in land use planning. For a fast-growing region like Abuja, Nigeria, its importance cannot be over emphasized. A study was carried out to map out the changes in land use and land cover of Abuja over a period of 37 years from 1987 – 2024. Geoinformatics tools such as Remote sensing and GIS were used to achieve the goal. Georeferencing was done across the six area councils of the FCT. Field data were captured using remote sensing. They were generated from satellite images using Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM), Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM) and Operational Land Mapper (OLI) Landsat 8. Google Arial image of the area was extracted through integrated plugins of semi-automatic classification and the Remotior Sensus version 8.3.0. Image pre-processing and co- registration were done to classify the images. Interpretation were done and maps were generated on a scale of 1:20,000. From the results, waterbodies decreased from 4.04 % in 1987 to 0.23 % in 2024 indicating 99.4 % loss of water bodies in the area. Vegetation cover decreased 24.36 % in 1987 to 5.54 % in 2024 indicating a loss of 77.4 %. Built-up areas increased consistently from 8.98 % in 1987 to 25.72 % in 2024 representing a growth of 65.1 %. It was observed that Sustainable land management practices, such as conservation agriculture and agroforestry, can help protect soil health, enhance biodiversity, and promote the sustainable use of natural resources. There is need to develop comprehensive urban plans that prioritize sustainable growth, integrate green infrastructure, and ensure equitable access to services and resources. Urban planning strategies should focus on minimizing urban sprawl, promoting mixed-use development, and incorporating green spaces and sustainable building practices to create more livable and resilient cities.