DISTANCE FACTOR IN THE LOCATION OF NEW LAND USES AROUND INTER-CITY SETTLEMENTS ON IBADAN-OYO EXPRESSWAY IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Expressway provides improved access to previously less accessible areas, reduces transportation costs and disadvantages of remote locations, and giving rise to land development in peripheral areas. Its corridors is characterised by development concentration at the proximity of the existing big settlements. This study unfolded the significance of distance factor around major inter-city settlements in locating new land uses on Ibadan-Oyo Expressway. The study adopted a survey design with primary data collected through structured questionnaire, physical count and photograph taking. The survey frame covered 19 inter-city settlements within 21km length of the Expressway. The entire households (5,948) of the study area form the target population and 1,016 households were drawn as sample, using systematic sampling technique. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. The finding revealed the dominance of residential (30.5%) and commercial (petroleum filling stations) (26.1%) land uses while public facility (1%) was the least attracted by the Expressway. The study confirmed the significant correlation between distance from major inter-city settlements and location of new land uses with a negative correlation (r5) = -0.936, p<0.05 at the critical value of 0.019. This means a decrease in the intensity of land uses as distance increases from major inter-city settlements. It recommended the preservation of land around the existing settlements, and preparation of a corridor master plan for Ibadan–Oyo by Oyo State Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Survey to manage the growth in inter-city settlements by providing urban services, infrastructure, and planned residential layouts to absorb demand.