Assessment of Population Growth and Land Use: Its Impact on Housing Demand in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

In literature, there are different kinds of land ownership systems which are implemented throughout the world. These systems are dynamic and not static. While land for housing is mostly provided through the market with a variety of long – term urban planning strategies in place to ensure 20 - 25yrs land supply for new housing. Many high growth regions need coordinated planning by all levels of government in cooperation with civil society and commercial interests to respond to deepening shortage of land for affordable housing. Demand for land use has increased due to Port Harcourt's rapid urbanisation, industrialisation, and population growth as well as changes in human behaviour and modern lifestyle. Following this, there have been significant changes in the land use and cover in Port Harcourt due to the demand for infrastructure and various house styles. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing were the methods used, and they offered a precise and affordable option to comprehending landscape dynamics. Additionally, multi-temporal and multi-spectral remotely sensed data-based digital change detection algorithms were applied. In addition, a mathematical model called ordinary differential equation was used in Matlab to supplement the relationship of population growth, housing demand, and land use in the city of Port Harcourt. The study's objectives are to examine the population growth of Port Harcourt since its inception. To investigate housing requirements and current land availability. To investigate the amount of land used for housing development. According to the study's findings, the built-up area increased from 16.50% in 1984 to 51.38% in 2014. Much development has occurred, consuming the majority of the Gallery Forest, Vegetation Area, and Water Bodies. Development of Built – Up area needs to be controlled so that all of the vegetation is not used up because the city needs some vegetation to allow the city breath. From the mathematical model the best-fit parameter value is 1 = 0.00000068338 for the carrying capacity value of 650,000 population size. The model has helped to supplement the relationship between population growth, housing demand, and land use in the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt. According to the findings, the 1978 Land Use Act should be revised because the government does not have control over land as stated on paper. Rivers State Physical Planning and Development Law No. 6 of 2003 should be put into effect. Green structures and technologies should be used.