Biblio

A major feature that characterizes most urban centers, especially in developing countries, is the existence of a dual settlement pattern; the main city, and slum settlements. The expansion of slum settlements create ecological and environmental problems which include poor hygienic conditions due to lack of proper waste disposal infrastructure, inaccessibility to safe drinking water, susceptibility to diseases outbreak due largely to poor ventilation and hygiene, regular floods, rapid deforestation within and around the settlements, land degradation, excessive air, surface and ground water pollution, etc. This study examined the expansion of slum settlements along the north-eastern entry/exit route of Abuja in Nigeria. The area represents a sprawling ?conurbation' of slum settlements stretching (rather continuously) along either sides of the entry/exit route. Landsat ETM+ (2000) and NigeriaSat-1 (2006) images were integrated with field-collected data within ILWIS GIS environment. The analysis showed a rapid expansion of slum area from 31.52 km2 to 104.51 km2 in 2000 and 2006, respectively. In view of the environmental problems noticed in the study area vis-is the observed pattern of expansion, recommendations were made to ensure environmental sustainability in this part of the world.