Extent and Techniques of Coastal Land Reclamation in the Niger Delta: A Spatio-Temporal Analysis

Abstract

This study examined the scale, pattern, and impacts of swamp reclamation in the Niger Delta between 1988 and 2018, with particular attention to its implications for urban development and environmental sustainability. Using Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing techniques, Landsat satellite images were analyzed to quantify the extent of reclaimed areas and to assess associated land cover and land use dynamics. The findings revealed that large portions of the Niger Delta’s wetlands have been reclaimed over the past three decades, with Rivers and Delta States recording the highest levels of reclamation, followed by Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa States. These spatial changes corresponded with significant reductions in swamp and primary forest areas, alongside increases in secondary vegetation, built-up surfaces, and other anthropogenically modified landscapes. The study demonstrates that while swamp reclamation contributes to urban growth, industrial expansion, and infrastructural development, it also results in severe ecological consequences such as habitat loss, biodiversity depletion, alteration of hydrological regimes, and declining ecosystem resilience. These environmental transformations threaten the ecological integrity of the Niger Delta, which serves as one of Nigeria’s most productive and sensitive ecological zones. Consequently, the study underscores the need for an integrated and sustainable approach to land reclamation that incorporates strong regulatory frameworks, effective environmental impact assessments, and continuous geospatial monitoring. Such measures are essential to ensure that developmental goals are achieved without undermining the long-term environmental stability and socio-ecological well-being of the region.