An overview of land cover changes in Nigeria, 1975 - 2005

Abstract

The pattern of land cover changes between 1975 and 2005 strongly indicated loss of prime arable lands which is
in turn leading to the opening up of new virgin land towards the south. In the northern and the middle parts of
the country, the cereal productive Sudan Savannah ecology is transiting to pure Sahel and the influence of the
Sahara is increasing southwards. In the same vein, the root and the tuber productive ecology of the Guinea
Savannah is giving way to Sudan Savannah grassland. The predominant Fulani herdsman of the lower Sahel
and Sudan Savannah ecologies is moving south to the Guinea Savannah and Forest belt of the South to find
greener pasture for his herds. This is not acceptable to the root and tuber farmers of the Guinea Savannah that
is already farming close to the margin of cultivation. He has the fears that Fulani herds will destroy his farmlands.
The natural result is clash over right to the lands. This paper therefore looks at the land cover changes in
Nigeria between 1975 and 2005 with a view to explaining this scenario.