Ayobo to Ikeja is a two-leg trip. The first leg is the Ayobo-Ipaja Road, from Ayobo through Ipaja to the Iyana Ipaja junction. The second is the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway towards Oshodi, past Dopemu, Cement and Mangoro to Ikeja Along, the stop for Ikeja. Ayobo is in Alimosho Local Government Area, under Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, and the whole route is on the mainland. Most people change vehicles at Iyana Ipaja, where the BRT along the expressway can also be picked up.
The route, stage by stage
- Your street to the Ayobo-Ipaja Road. Ayobo has grown outwards from its main road, and many inner streets are untarred. Motorcycles and tricycles cover this leg.
- Ayobo-Ipaja Road to Ipaja. The primary road through the area and, in practice, the only main way out towards Ikeja. It carries residents of Ayobo and the communities beyond it, and it is lined with shops, markets and bus stops.
- Ipaja to Iyana Ipaja. The road continues through Ipaja to Iyana Ipaja, where it meets the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. “Iyana” means junction, and this is the transport hub for the whole Ipaja and Ayobo axis, with a large motor park. See the Iyana Ipaja area guide.
- Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway: Dopemu, Cement, Mangoro. On the expressway, heading towards Oshodi, you pass a run of busy stops serving Dopemu, Agege and the streets on either side.
- Ikeja Along. The stop for Ikeja. From here you cross into Ikeja itself: Computer Village is close by, and Obafemi Awolowo Way, Allen Avenue, Alausa and Ikeja GRA are a short local trip further on.
The choke points
- The Ayobo-Ipaja Road: one main road, heavy roadside activity and a great many commuters. This is usually the slowest part of the trip relative to its length.
- Ipaja: junction traffic where side roads feed in.
- Iyana Ipaja: the merge onto the expressway, complicated by the motor park and the market.
- Dopemu and Cement: stopping buses and turning traffic.
- Ikeja Along: buses stop, passengers cross and vehicles turn into Ikeja at the same point.
- Rain: the inner streets of Ayobo suffer most, which can make the first leg the hardest.
Transport options
- Danfo and korope minibuses to Iyana Ipaja: the standard first leg. Some buses run through from the Ayobo axis towards Ikeja and Oshodi, but a change at Iyana Ipaja is more usual.
- BRT from Iyana Ipaja: the Oshodi to Abule Egba Bus Rapid Transit corridor runs along the expressway and serves Iyana Ipaja. Its buses use a dedicated lane for much of the corridor, which helps most at peak times.
- Minibuses on the expressway: frequent, calling at Ikeja Along on the way to Oshodi, in the general lanes.
- Ride-hailing: available, though drivers are fewer in Ayobo than in Ikeja, so allow for a wait in the early morning.
- Driving: you sit in the same queue on Ipaja Road as the buses, and parking in central Ikeja is tight.
There is no rail station or ferry on this route; the Lagos Red Line is reached at Agege or Ikeja, not from Ayobo.
How peak direction works
Ayobo is a residential area that sends most of its workers elsewhere, so the morning flow is one-way: out along the Ayobo-Ipaja Road to Iyana Ipaja, then inbound on the expressway to Ikeja and Oshodi. In the evening the pattern reverses, and the return along Ipaja Road into Ayobo is the slow part. Those who leave before the rush, or who work shifts or flexible hours, have a very different experience from those who must arrive in Ikeja at the start of normal office hours.
What it means for where you rent
- In Ayobo, the indicative annual rent for a 2-bedroom flat is ₦350,000–₦700,000, with older buildings asking less.
- In Iyana Ipaja, the indicative annual rent for a 2-bedroom flat is ₦180,000–₦500,000.
- In Ikeja, the indicative annual rent for a 2-bedroom flat is ₦1,200,000–₦3,500,000.
Ayobo gives you newer buildings and more space for the money than the areas on the expressway, at the cost of the extra leg on Ipaja Road. Iyana Ipaja and Abule Egba remove that leg; the Abule Egba to Ikeja commute shows how the expressway-side option compares. If you choose Ayobo:
- Pick a street close to the Ayobo-Ipaja Road and on the Ipaja side of Ayobo where you can; every stretch of inner road is added to both ends of your day.
- Inspect the street after heavy rain.
- Check power, water and security in person, since they vary from street to street.
- Do the full trip, door to desk, at your real departure time on a working day, and do the return.
See what is available: flats for rent in Ayobo, properties in Iyana Ipaja and flats for rent in Ikeja. The areas are described in the Ayobo area guide, the Iyana Ipaja area guide and the Ikeja area guide. Landlords in Alimosho can list a property on Cabans.
Frequently asked questions
What is the route from Ayobo to Ikeja?
Two legs. First the Ayobo-Ipaja Road, from Ayobo through Ipaja to the Iyana Ipaja junction. Then the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway towards Oshodi, passing Dopemu, Cement and Mangoro to Ikeja Along, which is the stop for Ikeja.
Which local government is Ayobo in?
Ayobo is in Alimosho Local Government Area and is administered by Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area. Ikeja is in Ikeja Local Government Area. Both are on the Lagos mainland, so the trip crosses no bridge.
Is there a BRT from Ayobo to Ikeja?
Not from Ayobo itself. The Oshodi to Abule Egba BRT corridor runs along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and serves Iyana Ipaja, so the usual pattern is a minibus or tricycle from Ayobo to Iyana Ipaja and the BRT from there to Ikeja Along.
Where is the worst traffic between Ayobo and Ikeja?
The Ayobo-Ipaja Road itself, which is the single main road out of the area, then the Iyana Ipaja junction where it meets the expressway, and finally Ikeja Along, where buses stop and traffic turns into Ikeja.
Is Ayobo too far to live if I work in Ikeja?
Many people do it, because rents in Ayobo are among the lowest in Lagos. It is a two-stage trip with a change at Iyana Ipaja, and the first stage on Ipaja Road is slow at peak times. It works best for people who can leave early or whose hours avoid the rush, and who choose a street close to the main road.
How much is rent in Ayobo compared with Ikeja?
Indicatively, a 2-bedroom flat in Ayobo rents for about ₦350,000–₦700,000 a year, with older stock below that. In Ikeja the indicative range for a 2-bedroom flat is ₦1,200,000–₦3,500,000 a year.
Related guides
Ayobo location guide · Iyana Ipaja area guide · Ikeja GRA area guide · Ipaja location guide · Alimosho location guide
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