Areas in Lagos Mainland: Full List by Local Government

The areas in Lagos Mainland fall under 16 local government areas: Ikeja, Kosofe, Shomolu, Lagos Mainland, Surulere, Mushin, Oshodi-Isolo, Alimosho, Agege, Ifako-Ijaiye, Amuwo-Odofin, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Apapa, Ojo, Ikorodu and Badagry. The names people actually search for — Ikeja GRA, Gbagada, Yaba, Surulere, Ikotun, Festac — are neighbourhoods inside those councils, and they are listed below council by council with a note on what each is like. The remaining four local governments of Lagos State are the island side, set out in areas in Lagos Island; how the two sides differ is explained in Lagos mainland vs island.

Areas in central Lagos Mainland

Ikeja

Ikeja is the state capital and the commercial centre of the mainland. Its areas are Ikeja GRA, Allen Avenue, Opebi, Alausa, Oregun, Adeniyi Jones, Ogba, Ojodu, Omole and Maryland, with the airport on its western side. The GRA and Omole are low-density and expensive; Ogba and Oregun are the more affordable end. It suits people who work in Alausa, around the airport or in the Allen–Opebi offices. See is Ikeja mainland or island?, the Ojodu Berger guide and the Ikeja area guide.

Kosofe

Kosofe runs along the lagoon side from the Third Mainland Bridge to the Ikorodu Road exit from the city. Its areas are Gbagada, Anthony Village, Ogudu, Ojota, Ketu, Mile 12, Oworonshoki and Magodo. Gbagada, Ogudu GRA and Magodo are gated, family-oriented and popular with people who cross the bridge to work on the Island; Ketu and Mile 12 are dense, market-led and cheaper. Related: Harmony Estate, Gbagada and is Gbagada mainland or island?

Shomolu

Shomolu council covers Shomolu, Bariga, Pedro, Onipanu and Palmgrove. It is dense, old and central, known for its printing trade, with mostly older blocks of flats and tenement houses.

Lagos Mainland

Lagos Mainland is a single council, not the whole mainland. It holds Yaba, Ebute Metta, Akoka, Sabo, Alagomeji, Oyingbo, Iddo, Iwaya and Makoko. The University of Lagos and the Yaba technology cluster make it the student and young-professional side of the city, and it is the closest mainland council to the Island bridges. The neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood list is in areas in Yaba.

Surulere

Surulere is the long-established middle-class heart of the mainland: Bode Thomas, Adeniran Ogunsanya, Ojuelegba, Aguda, Itire, Lawanson, Masha and Iponri, with the National Stadium on its eastern side. Housing is mostly older flats and family houses on tarred residential streets. It suits families and workers who want a central address with everything close by. See is Surulere mainland or island? and houses for rent in Aguda.

Mushin

Mushin council covers Mushin, Idi-Oro, Idi-Araba, Papa Ajao, Odi-Olowo and Ilupeju. Mushin itself is one of the densest, busiest trading districts in Lagos with some of the lowest central rents; Ilupeju is the exception, a planned industrial and residential estate with quieter streets and higher prices.

Oshodi-Isolo

This council joins the Oshodi transport interchange to the residential districts west of it: Mafoluku, Ajao Estate, Isolo, Okota, Ago Palace Way and Ejigbo. Ajao Estate and Okota are popular with airport and airline staff and with traders; Ejigbo is the cheaper end. See is Oshodi mainland or island?

Areas in north and north-west Lagos Mainland

Alimosho

Alimosho is the most populous local government in Lagos State. Its areas are Ikotun, Igando, Idimu, Egbeda, Akowonjo, Ipaja, Iyana Ipaja and Ayobo. It is the high-volume affordable market — self-contains, mini flats and 2-bedroom flats in owner-built blocks — and suits households that put rent ahead of commute. Browse properties in Alimosho or properties in Ikotun.

Agege

Agege council covers Agege town, Orile-Agege, Pen Cinema and Oko-Oba, north-west of Ikeja. It is an old market and railway town absorbed by the city, with dense, low-cost housing and a short trip to Ikeja.

Ifako-Ijaiye

Ifako-Ijaiye takes in Ifako, Ijaiye, Iju-Ishaga, Fagba and Ojokoro on the northern edge of the state. It is residential and affordable, and it suits people who work in Ikeja or Agege and want more space for the money.

Ikorodu

Ikorodu is a town and local government in the north-east of the state: Ikorodu town, Ebute, Agric, Owutu, Ogolonto, Igbogbo, Bayeku, Ijede and Imota. Land and rents are among the cheapest in Lagos, which draws first-time builders and families; the journey into the city runs through Mile 12 and Ketu or by ferry. See the Ikorodu area guide.

Areas in south-west Lagos Mainland

Amuwo-Odofin

Amuwo-Odofin holds Festac Town, Mile 2, Satellite Town and the Amuwo-Odofin housing estates along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway. Festac is a planned federal estate with a loyal, settled population; the rest is a mix of estates and open streets. See is Festac mainland or island?

Ajeromi-Ifelodun

This small, very dense council is best known for Ajegunle, together with Olodi-Apapa, Amukoko and Layeni. Rents are among the lowest near the ports, and most housing is tenement-style.

Apapa

Apapa is the port district: the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, Apapa GRA and Ijora. The GRA has large older houses and flats used by shipping, logistics and oil-service staff; port traffic is the thing to weigh before renting.

Ojo

Ojo covers Ojo town, Alaba International Market, Okokomaiko, Iba, Ajangbadi and the Lagos State University side. It is a traders' and students' market with low rents. Browse properties in Ojo.

Badagry

Badagry is the historic coastal town at the western end of the state, with Ajara, Topo and the road to the Seme border. It is quiet and low-cost and a long way from the city, so it suits people who work locally and buyers of land.

Indicative annual rents on the mainland

These are indicative asking ranges for a full year. Newer buildings with a borehole, prepaid meter and parking sit at the top of each range; older blocks on untarred streets sit at the bottom.

• Ikeja: 2-bedroom flat ₦1,200,000 – ₦3,500,000 per annum
• Gbagada: 2-bedroom flat ₦900,000 – ₦2,000,000 per annum
• Surulere: 2-bedroom flat ₦700,000 – ₦1,800,000 per annum
• Yaba: 2-bedroom flat ₦450,000 – ₦1,800,000 per annum
• Festac: 2-bedroom flat ₦300,000 – ₦800,000 per annum
• Ikotun: 2-bedroom flat ₦350,000 – ₦650,000 per annum
• Oshodi: 2-bedroom flat ₦200,000 – ₦600,000 per annum

For citywide figures see average rent in Lagos, and to see what is on the market now, search flats for rent in Ikeja, flats for rent in Surulere or houses for rent in Gbagada. Landlords and agents can list a mainland property on Cabans free.

Places often mistaken for the Lagos mainland

Several towns along the northern edge of the city are advertised with Lagos addresses although the state boundary runs close by. We have separate guides on whether Berger, Akute, Arepo, Magboro, Mowe and Agbara are in Lagos or Ogun State.

Frequently asked questions

How many local government areas are on the Lagos mainland?

Sixteen of the 20 local government areas of Lagos State are counted as the mainland: Ikeja, Kosofe, Shomolu, Lagos Mainland, Surulere, Mushin, Oshodi-Isolo, Alimosho, Agege, Ifako-Ijaiye, Amuwo-Odofin, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Apapa, Ojo, Ikorodu and Badagry. The other four, Lagos Island, Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki and Epe, are the island side and the Lekki-Epe corridor.

Which areas are under Lagos Mainland Local Government Area?

Lagos Mainland Local Government Area is one council, not the whole mainland. It covers Yaba, Ebute Metta, Akoka, Sabo, Alagomeji, Oyingbo, Iddo, Iwaya and Makoko. Areas such as Ikeja, Surulere and Gbagada are on the mainland but belong to other local governments.

What are the best areas to live on the Lagos mainland?

The established upmarket addresses are Ikeja GRA, Magodo, Omole and the estates of Gbagada and Ogudu. Surulere, Yaba, Ilupeju, Maryland and Festac Town are the established mid-range districts. Which is best depends on your budget and where you work, because the daily commute matters more on the mainland than the address.

What are the cheapest areas on the Lagos mainland?

The lowest rents are in the outer local governments: Alimosho, Agege, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ojo, Ikorodu and Badagry. In Ikorodu a 2-bedroom flat is indicatively ₦300,000–₦650,000 a year. The trade-off is a longer journey to Ikeja, Victoria Island and the Lagos Island business district.

Is Ikorodu part of the Lagos mainland?

Yes. Ikorodu is a local government area in the north-east of Lagos State, on the mainland side of the Lagos Lagoon. It is reached by Ikorodu Road through Ketu and Mile 12, and by ferry across the lagoon.

Is Lekki on the mainland?

No. Lekki is in Eti-Osa Local Government Area on the Lekki Peninsula and is counted with the island side of Lagos, together with Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Ajah.

Related guides: Areas in Lagos Island, Areas in Yaba, Lagos mainland vs island, Best areas to rent a house in Lagos, Renting in Lagos, Relocating to Lagos.