Socio-economic effect of gully erosion on land use in Gombe Metropolis, Gombe State, Nigeria

Gully erosion is one of the severe environmental problems facing Gombe metropolis. It threatens urban infrastructure, properties, lives and the physical growth of the town. This article assesses the socio-economic effect of gully erosion in Gombe metropolis. The aim of the study was to assess the socio-economic effect of gully erosion on land use in Gombe metropolis. Data used in this study were derived from field administration of questionnaire and focus group discussion. Three sampled gully profiles cutting across different land use areas were purposively selected for the study. They were referred as Gully A, transect FCE-Arawa-M/Inna-U/Uku Gully site; Gully profile B, transect Fed.lowcost-B/Yero-Idi-Herwagana-Idi-U/Uku Gully site and Gully profile C, transect Old/GRA-Gabukka-Barunde-Madaki-Bogo-Doma. From each gully profiles, 10% of the population around the gully site was used as population sample administering the total of 207 questionnaires in all the three gully sites under different landuse areas. Results obtained through questionnaires and focus group discussions was analysed, using simple percentage presented in different tables and discussed.The results indicated that several buildings, farmlands/plots and other properties worth millions of naira as well as both human and animal lives were lost due to effect of gully erosion in the study area. Key words: Socioeconomic, gully erosion, land use, Gombe metropolis.