Disparity in Peri-Urbanisation Process in Lagos, Nigeria

*Funmilayo M. Adedire*

### **Abstract**

This chapter assessed the causes of disparity in the peri-urbanisation process in Lagos new towns and the accompanying effect on the characteristics of the transitioning settlements. Data collection was primarily through administration of 384 and 370 questionnaires to purposively selected housing units in Ikorodu and Ibeju-Lekki, respectively. These two settlements represent the most rapidly urbanising peri-urban in Lagos State. Primary data collected included drivers of urban expansion, residents' demography, locational convenience and commuting frequency. To supplement the primary data, spatial images of 2006 and 2016 were acquired as satellite images from Google Earth archive for this study. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics for the quantitative data and time series and satellite image analysis for the qualitative data. The results show a varying extent of transition primarily influenced by the residents' demography, linkages to the urban areas, quality of life and stakeholders' response to housing policy. The study concluded that urban policy should be used as a tool to ameliorate the disparity in infrastructure development, which is the major driver of changes, and also, government involvement in housing provision should have a spread in all urban periphery settlements in Lagos State.

**Keywords:** commuting, land use, peri-urbanisation, periphery, rural-urban linkages, socio-demography

### **1. Introduction**

Peri-urbanisation in Lagos State is spearheaded by many actors often with conflicting interest [1]. The pattern and rate of land conversion from agricultural land use to residential and other land uses at the peripheral does not have corresponding infrastructure. Imbalance in changes in the peri-urban interface of most developing countries poses several challenges to planning and ultimately leads to a distortion in urban policy [2]. Urban transition in Lagos peri-urban interface is traceable to many factors, some of which include socio-demography, linkages to the metropolises, availability of basic services, availability and affordability of housing for the low income migrants and the state government policy on land use.

While the conversion of land at the peripheral of cities can enhance the provision of housing and space for industrial expansion [3], interactions of many forces at the peri-urban interface determine the sustainability. Primarily, the heterogeneous population makes it difficult for an effective community participation in the development of basic services [4, 5]. Urban quality of life is a function of

participative planning and, this is greatly influenced by the socio-demography of the migrants which are mostly of the low income group in the periphery [6].

Urban form is a major determining factor in the extent and pattern of expansion. The dispersed nature of peri-urban settlements in most developing countries encourages government's disparity in infrastructure development. This is a major factor influencing the peri-urbanisation process in developing countries. Lack of urban compactness constitutes an economic burden in terms of providing basic services [7]. Isolated settlements from the urban core suffer from lack of infrastructure due to distance and the financial implications. Ease of commuting also encourages rapid expansion in cities' periphery [1]. Investigation by Adedire and Iweka [8] shows that effective linkages through different means of transportation are a catalyst in the development of metropolitan fringe. The expansion of settlements is in response to extent of linkages [9].

This study seeks to fill the gap in research on peri-urbanisation process in Lagos periphery. Some research works have been carried out on land use changes, rural-urban linkages and environmental quality in Nigerian peri-urban settlements [1, 10–12]. But none of these researches had assessed the disparity in the transition trends and the implications on the urban quality of life in Lagos periurban. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the causes of disparity in peri-urbanisation process in Lagos, Nigeria.

### **2. Literature review**

One of the accompanying negative effects of urbanisation in developing countries is outward expansion of built up area and conversion of agricultural lands into residential and industrial uses [13]. The peri-urban expansion is part of a wider urbanisation process; it is the consequence of urbanisation [14]. Urbanisation in Lagos State, Nigeria has attached to it, peri-urbanisation which is an urban-driven transition in the territory outside the metropolitan regions or urban core [15].

The peri-urbanisation process is mostly in response to growth in population and spatial demand for industrial and economic activities. It is the gradual transformation of rural land to urban as a result of physical and human interactions [16]. The basic distinguishing factors between the rural, peri-urban and urban are population, built up density, infrastructure, administration, boundaries and economies [17]. Spatial morphology of rural-urban region includes the urban core, urban inner area, the suburban area, urban periphery, and rural hinterland [18].

Notable transformations in the peri-urban include socio-demographic, morphological, cultural, economic and functional changes [19]. The urban periphery in most developing countries, allows multi-dimensional development. It accommodates industrial activities due to the limited land area in the city centre and also provides a means of housing for the urban population [20]. In addition, peri-urban settlements also serve as a major provider of housing for urban population in highly populated cities in developing countries [7, 20, 21].

With high population growth rate and continuous rural-urban drift in most developing countries, housing deficit becomes a critical challenge [22]. This creates a seized opportunities in real estate development in creating well planned towns in the peri-urban. Therefore, peri-urban settlements in African nations are emerging with massive investment in housing development and infrastructure development because of the possibility of lower houses price of housing, large living space and a better environment. In addition, location of housing in the peri-urban is enhanced by transport, accessibility to employment and services. This is partially responsible for the growth of peri-urban settlements in Lagos [1, 8].

**49**

**Figure 1.**

*Disparity in Peri-Urbanisation Process in Lagos, Nigeria DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93530*

government in terms of formal control [26].

north of Lagos. It occupies a land area of about 345 km2

*Map of Lagos State showing the case studies. Source: Field work (2017).*

**3. Study areas**

Drivers of housing expansion in the peri-urban are perceived infrastructural development, improved socio-economic activities and development of the tourism sector [23]. With improvement in transportation and the rising household incomes, which enhances more vehicle ownership, housing development in African peri-urban settlements is also increased [19]. Also the decline in urban environmental quality influences residential development in cities' periphery of developing countries [6]. Improved transport infrastructure has aided the spread of most peri-urban radially in all directions. Transport and communications are key factors in addition to infrastructure in facilitating and encouraging urban-rural migration regarded as counter urbanisation [10, 24]. In addition, the relocation of economic activity to peri-urban zones of most developing nations gradually leads to pull factors in terms of opportunity to engage in small industry, property investment, and improved urban quality, cheaper land for housing and improved infrastructure. Locational benefits are enabled by closeness to places of work, which is made achievable by improved transportation and the presence of public and private institutions, also commercial ventures [25].

The roles of different actors also inform the type and extent of urban transition in the peri-urban. Notable actors are local farmers, peri-urban residents, entrepreneurs, property developers and government institutions [26]. Entrepreneurs represent the demand side of the land market due to the spatial demand for commercial and industrial activities. The supply and demand of land market is controlled by property developers having greater hold on monetary and political powers, and in return influencing changes in the interface. They fill in the gap created by laxity of

To compare and contrast the peri-urbanisation process in Lagos State, Ikorodu and Ibeju-Lekki are selected as case studies. Ikorodu represents the highly urbanised peri-urban in Lagos in terms of residential development and population growth while Ibeju-Lekki represents the least urbanised peri-urban in Lagos in term of population growth and housing development. Ikorodu is located in the North East of Lagos State along the Lagos lagoon and situated at a distance of approximately 36 km

mately latitude 6°36′ North and longitude 3°30′ East. Ikorodu had an enumerated population of 535,619. The sample frame constitutes the existing buildings in the peri-urban. Ibeju-Lekki local government area is approximately 75 km long and

. It is situated at approxi-

### *Disparity in Peri-Urbanisation Process in Lagos, Nigeria DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93530*

Drivers of housing expansion in the peri-urban are perceived infrastructural development, improved socio-economic activities and development of the tourism sector [23]. With improvement in transportation and the rising household incomes, which enhances more vehicle ownership, housing development in African peri-urban settlements is also increased [19]. Also the decline in urban environmental quality influences residential development in cities' periphery of developing countries [6]. Improved transport infrastructure has aided the spread of most peri-urban radially in all directions. Transport and communications are key factors in addition to infrastructure in facilitating and encouraging urban-rural migration regarded as counter urbanisation [10, 24].

In addition, the relocation of economic activity to peri-urban zones of most developing nations gradually leads to pull factors in terms of opportunity to engage in small industry, property investment, and improved urban quality, cheaper land for housing and improved infrastructure. Locational benefits are enabled by closeness to places of work, which is made achievable by improved transportation and the presence of public and private institutions, also commercial ventures [25].

The roles of different actors also inform the type and extent of urban transition in the peri-urban. Notable actors are local farmers, peri-urban residents, entrepreneurs, property developers and government institutions [26]. Entrepreneurs represent the demand side of the land market due to the spatial demand for commercial and industrial activities. The supply and demand of land market is controlled by property developers having greater hold on monetary and political powers, and in return influencing changes in the interface. They fill in the gap created by laxity of government in terms of formal control [26].

### **3. Study areas**

*Landscape Architecture - Processes and Practices Towards Sustainable Development*

in response to extent of linkages [9].

**2. Literature review**

peri-urbanisation process in Lagos, Nigeria.

participative planning and, this is greatly influenced by the socio-demography of the migrants which are mostly of the low income group in the periphery [6]. Urban form is a major determining factor in the extent and pattern of expansion. The dispersed nature of peri-urban settlements in most developing countries encourages government's disparity in infrastructure development. This is a major factor influencing the peri-urbanisation process in developing countries. Lack of urban compactness constitutes an economic burden in terms of providing basic services [7]. Isolated settlements from the urban core suffer from lack of infrastructure due to distance and the financial implications. Ease of commuting also encourages rapid expansion in cities' periphery [1]. Investigation by Adedire and Iweka [8] shows that effective linkages through different means of transportation are a catalyst in the development of metropolitan fringe. The expansion of settlements is

This study seeks to fill the gap in research on peri-urbanisation process in Lagos periphery. Some research works have been carried out on land use changes, rural-urban linkages and environmental quality in Nigerian peri-urban settlements [1, 10–12]. But none of these researches had assessed the disparity in the transition trends and the implications on the urban quality of life in Lagos periurban. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the causes of disparity in

One of the accompanying negative effects of urbanisation in developing countries is outward expansion of built up area and conversion of agricultural lands into residential and industrial uses [13]. The peri-urban expansion is part of a wider urbanisation process; it is the consequence of urbanisation [14]. Urbanisation in Lagos State, Nigeria has attached to it, peri-urbanisation which is an urban-driven transition in

The peri-urbanisation process is mostly in response to growth in population and spatial demand for industrial and economic activities. It is the gradual transformation of rural land to urban as a result of physical and human interactions [16]. The basic distinguishing factors between the rural, peri-urban and urban are population, built up density, infrastructure, administration, boundaries and economies [17]. Spatial morphology of rural-urban region includes the urban core, urban inner

Notable transformations in the peri-urban include socio-demographic, morphological, cultural, economic and functional changes [19]. The urban periphery in most developing countries, allows multi-dimensional development. It accommodates industrial activities due to the limited land area in the city centre and also provides a means of housing for the urban population [20]. In addition, peri-urban settlements also serve as a major provider of housing for urban population in highly

With high population growth rate and continuous rural-urban drift in most developing countries, housing deficit becomes a critical challenge [22]. This creates a seized opportunities in real estate development in creating well planned towns in the peri-urban. Therefore, peri-urban settlements in African nations are emerging with massive investment in housing development and infrastructure development because of the possibility of lower houses price of housing, large living space and a better environment. In addition, location of housing in the peri-urban is enhanced by transport, accessibility to employment and services. This is partially responsible

the territory outside the metropolitan regions or urban core [15].

area, the suburban area, urban periphery, and rural hinterland [18].

populated cities in developing countries [7, 20, 21].

for the growth of peri-urban settlements in Lagos [1, 8].

**48**

To compare and contrast the peri-urbanisation process in Lagos State, Ikorodu and Ibeju-Lekki are selected as case studies. Ikorodu represents the highly urbanised peri-urban in Lagos in terms of residential development and population growth while Ibeju-Lekki represents the least urbanised peri-urban in Lagos in term of population growth and housing development. Ikorodu is located in the North East of Lagos State along the Lagos lagoon and situated at a distance of approximately 36 km north of Lagos. It occupies a land area of about 345 km2 . It is situated at approximately latitude 6°36′ North and longitude 3°30′ East. Ikorodu had an enumerated population of 535,619. The sample frame constitutes the existing buildings in the peri-urban. Ibeju-Lekki local government area is approximately 75 km long and

**Figure 1.** *Map of Lagos State showing the case studies. Source: Field work (2017).*

about 20 km wide and has a land area of about 646 km<sup>2</sup> , which equals one quarter of the total land mass of Lagos State. It is situated at approximately latitude 40°15′ North latitude 40°17′ North and longitude 13,015′ East and 13,020′ East. According to the National Population Commission [27] census, Ibeju-Lekki had a population of 117,481 out of Lagos State's total of 9,113,605 (**Figure 1**).
