The Changing City: Patterns of Neighbourhood Gentrification and Displacement in Ibadan North LGA

Gentrification can be understood as the process through which geographical areas become increasingly exclusive, disproportionately affecting the geographical fabric by driving up property values, rents, and living costs, and displacing long-term, lower-income residents. This article evaluates and documents the effects of gentrification in Ibadan-North Local Government Area (LGA), Nigeria. This evaluation seeks to understand these effects and guide practical solutions to the challenges gentrification creates within the study area. This research adopts a mixed method approach, utilizing questionnaires administered to relevant stakeholders, GIS spatial data, and case studies to analyze changes over a 14-year period (2012-2026) across Agbowo, Bodija, and Orogun in Ibadan-North LGA. The findings reveal that gentrification has triggered a chain effect, leading to studentification and displacement. While the process has contributed to academic growth, increased real estate values, and commercial development, it has also intensified housing affordability challenges and social inequalities among existing residents. The study concludes that the effects of gentrification can be effectively managed through planning approaches that balance economic growth with social equity. It recommends inclusionary housing policies, rent monitoring and mediation systems, university community housing partnerships, stronger zoning controls, and incentives for rehabilitating existing buildings instead of demolishing them. Implementing these measures would mitigate the adverse impacts of gentrification while promoting sustainable urban development, preserving community identity, and supporting the long-term well-being of residents in Ibadan-North Local Government Area.