Urban Green Space Accessibility in Ilorin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Urban green space (UGS) is a very important determinant of social and environmental fairness. Many developing countries are faced with a dearth of public green spaces and Ilorin in Nigeria is no exception. Despite the numerous benefits of these facilities, they are still the target of encroachment by other land uses. The study assesses green space distribution in Ilorin City, using the World Health Organization (WHO) standard  indicators to evaluate its accessibility and availability. The primary instruments used are the Geographic Information System (ArcMap 10.3), Google Earth Engine (GEE), and administrative shapefiles of Ilorin West and South Local Government Areas. The results show that UGS is inadequate and only one out of the fourteen wards in the city meets the WHO 9m²green space standard and also offers 64.2 percent public access within a 300m distance radius. This result implies that Ilorin is not developing along the path of sustainability since the dearth of green space predisposes its inhabitants to immense danger. A recommendation was made for the design of a comprehensive green space master plan for the city. This shall put a check on the city's growth to foster sustainable development.