CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background of Urban Sprawl

In recent years, the rural population flow in Bamenda has increased tremendously. This can be linked to the expansion of social facilities and services within the region, provided by government development programs aimed at weaning the rural population out of primitive agriculture, and the government initiative to bring services closer to the people. Most people prefer moving to Bamenda where they have easier access to better health care, quality education, water and electricity supply, and good communication and road facilities. Besides, a good number of these people are also attracted by the higher job opportunities in the town. The urban population of the developed world is expected to grow from 0.9 billion to 1billion by 2030, while that for the less developed world is expected to grow from 1.9 billion to 3.9 billion by 2030 (UNCHS Habitat, 2001). The ever-increasing population of the world has led to the rise of unplanned urban growth in the cities, usually termed urban sprawl. Between 2005 and 2015 the world‟s cities swelled by about 750million people, per the UN. By 2050, China, India and Nigeria alone are expected to add about 900million urban residents in the mega cities of these countries. Most of the growth is experienced in Africa and Asia, specifically on the fringes of African and Asian cities. With few exceptions, cities are growing faster in size than in population. The UNFPA (2007) contends that the space taken up by urban localities is increasing faster than the urban population itself. A recent study by WWF shows that in the last 25 years, some 33 percent of the natural world has been annihilated (The Living Planet Index, WWF, 1998 in Girardet, 1999). From the end of the 20th century, humanity started turning themselves into urban species making large cities and towns their main habitat. To live in sprawl means driving to work, driving to get dinner, driving to meet your friends. It means congestion, as its inhabitants travel ludicrous distances for work or basic services, and isolation due to the lack of the benefit of compact city life. Sprawl eats up huge areas in very inefficient ways, destroying arable land and creating monocultures. Furthermore, a sprawling metropolis generates vastly greater amounts of pollution and CO2 than a more compact one (Douglas, 2017). Urban sprawl is a multifaceted concept that directly affects traffic congestion, high oil consumption and many other transportation issues (Brunner and Andrew, 2013, Kimengsi, Balgah & Achia, 2017). As a result of urban sprawl most of the population have developed strategies in order to be able to coup with sprawl such as the development of urban growth boundaries beyond which construction is prohibited or severely restricted, whereas others have limited the influence of urban sprawl through innovative land-use planning techniques or community cooperation. The lapses of urban sprawl are as a result of the following corruption that is a situation where citizen has been ban from building in a particular area but they still went behind and bribe the authorities in order to carry on their activities. More so they is lack of follow up to implement the rules and regulation of urban sprawl. More so, property owners are evading their taxes so they turn to the 2 suburbs where they will be no body to charge them. The expansion of human populations away from city centres into low-density, mono-functional and usually car-dependent communities is a process that has been operating in most towns of the world and in recent years, the phenomenon is occurring at an accelerated rate. Land use dynamics and variations in sprawl are interwoven phenomenon that is inevitable as long as humanity continue to exist on the earth‟s surface (Girardet, 1999). The urban population of Cameroon doubled within a period of 30 years after independence moving from 28.3% in 1976 to 44.3% in 2005 (Fombe & Balgah, 2012). It was projected to be 50.6% in 2010, 53.5% for 2015 (projections from National Census 2005). This has resulted in rapid urban expansion of Cameroon cities such as Yaounde, Douala, Bafoussam, Limbe, Buea and Bamenda. Bamenda is a metropolis town in the North West Region of Cameroon witnessing rapid changes in land use patterns, which have resulted to urban sprawl at varied degrees at the detriment of its environmentally fragile lands, watersheds and the scenic beauty (Nyambod, 2010). Bamenda has transcended from being an urban centre to a complex heterogeneous city rendering cross-sectorial functions and services to its inhabitants as well as its hinterland. The objective of this study is to analyse the trends of urban sprawl and its effects on the development of Bamenda I municipality from 1996 to 2021 and assess the development implications inherent with this growth. The suburbs of Bamenda I municipality are growing faster in size than in population and infrastructures, witnessing continues expansion of built-up and commercial land among others, resulting in the degradation of agricultural and forest lands, leading to loss of livelihood, joblessness, misery and poverty for rural dwellers. Changing lifestyle of dwellers in the rural-urban interface has equally enhanced increase degradation resulting from pollution. Extension of the built-up area and other human developments into underdeveloped areas (marginal lands) like very steep slopes (Sisia and Abangoh) prone to geomorphological hazards and riverine/wetland areas (Mulang and Mbelem) prone to flooding and designated as “uninhabitable” have increased the frequency of natural hazards. All these in contravention of the Law No 2004/003 of AVR.2002, which prohibits housing development in such areas. Sprawl in Bamenda, is not compatible with the supply of adequate infrastructures. The neighbourhoods are strewn with poorly, drained, poorly connected and narrow streets among other infrastructures. The high living cost around the CBD has pushed the newly arrived into the suburbs. The need to evaluate the trend and disparities of urban sprawl across the various peripheral zones of the Bamenda I municipality from 1996 to 2021 constitute the basis of this study which is hinged on the premise that urban sprawl dominates the whole of Bamenda I municipality especially the northeast, northwest and the southwestern section of the municipality.

 1.2. Problem Statement

In Bamenda Municipality, rapid population growth and inadequate urban planning have contributed to significant urban sprawl with effects like car-dependent communities, increased distances between residential and commercial zones. This phenomenon has profound implications for transportation efficiency resulting in longer travel times, increased traffic congestion, poor roads and higher transportation cost. Transportation in Bamenda is a significant contributor to noise and air pollution. The town’s reliance on older vehicles and limited regulation exacerbates these problems. The extensive use of motorbikes and heavy traffic on major roads contribute to high levels of noise. Residents near the city centre and markets are particularly affected. Older vehicles, which dominate the roads in Bamenda, emit high levels of pollutants due to inefficient combustion and a lack of emissions controls. Dust from unpaved roads also contributes to poor air quality. These conditions increase the prevalence of respiratory illnesses among residents.

Traffic congestion is a growing problem in Bamenda, driven by increasing population and vehicle ownership alongside inadequate road networks. Frequent traffic jams, particularly in central areas like Commercial Avenue, delay business operations and increase transportation costs. Narrow, poorly planned streets, combined with informal parking and market activities spilling onto roads, contribute to congestion. Bamenda’s road infrastructure is a critical issue affecting transportation efficiency and safety. Many roads in Bamenda are unpaved or poorly maintained, leading to potholes, erosion, and seasonal flooding during the rainy season. Key routes like the Bamenda-Bafut and Bamenda-Kumbo roads are often in disrepair, hampering mobility and economic activity. Poor road infrastructure limits connectivity between Bamenda and surrounding rural areas, affecting the transportation of agricultural produce and other goods. Efforts to pave roads, construct drainage systems, and improve maintenance are crucial to addressing these challenges. Bamenda’s growing population is putting additional pressure on its transportation system. Increased population density in urban areas has led to higher demand for public transport and personal vehicles, overwhelming the city’s limited infrastructure. The city’s growth has led to urban sprawl, with residents moving to peripheral neighbourhoods like Nkwen and Mankon. This expansion creates increased reliance on motorbikes and taxis. As the population grows, so does the need for sustainable transportation solutions to mitigate the effects of air pollution and traffic accidents.

1.3 Research Question

1.3.1 Main Question

• What is the current state of urban sprawl in Bamenda Municipality and its impact on transportation efficiency?

1.3.2 Specific Questions

• What are the key factors contributing to urban sprawl in Bamenda Municipality?
• What are the effects of urban sprawl on transportation infrastructure and services in Bamenda Municipality?
• What are the recommendations for addressing the challenges posed by urban sprawl to improve transportation options and promote sustainable urban development in Bamenda Municipality.

1.4 Research objectives

1.4.1 Main Objectives

• To access the current state of urban sprawl in Bamenda Municipality and its impact on transportation efficiency.

1.4.2 Specific Objectives

• To identify the key factors contributing to urban sprawl in Bamenda Municipality.
• To evaluate the effects of urban sprawl on transportation infrastructure and services in Bamenda Municipality.
• To provide recommendations for addressing the challenges posed by urban sprawl to improve transportation options and promote sustainable urban development in Bamenda Municipality.