2.3.1 Theorising the peri-urban
As a result of the rapid growth of cities across Nigeria, peri-urban settlements, referred to as transition zones, where urban and rural activities exist side by side have experienced rapid alterations induced by human activities (Thando & Gwebu, 2013). Furthermore, to understand this dynamics of change in peri-urban settlements, different scholars have undertaken a myriad of studies with a view to explaining the patterns, determinants, impacts and policy implications of the spatial expansion of cities in the developing world. Most of these present-day discussions of peri-urban settlements emphasize patterns of change, mainly resulting from infringement from a neighbouring city as explained in their expressions. …show more content…
The peri-urban was also described as an interface, as ‘the continually growing fringe around a city (as cited in Marshall et al., 2009). In spite of these insight, understanding the peri-urban as a mixed collection of rural and urban character has resulted in an underlying supposition in various write ups that the peri-urban is ‘place-based’ phenomenon.

Dupont (2005), described it as ‘a midway area between urban core and rural spaces’ He also defined ‘the “peri-urban” as an area outside existing urban agglomeration where there is increased dynamism taking place over space and time’ while Cadène (2005), saw it as an area ‘lying between cities and the countryside’. Allen et al (2006) provide a working definition of the peri-urban – which surmount the need to position the peri-urban ‘beyond’ the city – he saw it as an area ‘where rural and urban characteristics co-exist, in environmental, socio-economic and institutional terms’ (as cited in Marshall et al.,