Analysis of Commercial Land Use Proposal Changes in Relations to Physical Planning Decisions in Jimeta, Nigeria

Commercial lands in most Nigerian cities have extended, encroached, and converted adjoining residential land uses in a manner totally outside the scope established by planning authorities. This lead to traffic obstruction, unwanted crowding, fire and health hazards, and degradation of urban quality. Therefore, this paper aim to identify the factors responsible for the pattern of commercial land development with a view to consider them as input for an effective commercial land control and development in Jimeta. Data including maps and information obtained from various sources were used to prepare a ?snap shots? of commercial land and activities located within various land uses of Jimeta using ArcGIS 10.3.1. The study revealed that the core commercial land development in Jimeta was initially on the bank of River Benue. However, the Master plan of Jimeta in 1976 moved this central business district (CBD) away from the center of development. Banks and hotels were included in the core plan of the CBD, but it was not effectively implemented. The factors responsible for the uncontrolled nature of commercial land development in Jimeta include failure of planning agencies, under-allocation of land for commercial use, permission by Institutions, political interference, and lack of protection of the Master plan. The study conclude that in other to minimize such problems in future there is need to make the Master plan a legal document by legislation. The production of a Master plan should be accompanied by a well-articulated planning brief that specifies commercial land requirement in every sector and sub-sector.