Bode Thomas Street, Surulere: Street Guide

Bode Thomas Street is one of the main commercial and residential streets of Surulere, in Surulere Local Government Area on the Lagos mainland. It runs through central Surulere, connecting with Eric Moore Road on one side and with Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, the district’s main shopping street, on the other. The frontage is lined with banks, shops, eateries and offices, and blocks of flats stand among them and on the streets that lead off it.

Where Bode Thomas Street is and what it connects

Surulere is a large, long-established mainland district, and Bode Thomas sits in its commercial heart. The Eric Moore end leads towards the Iganmu and Costain side, where the roads to Lagos Island and Apapa are picked up. The other side connects with Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, where the shopping mall and many of the retail chains are. Between the two, short residential streets branch off on both sides. The rest of the district, including Aguda, Ojuelegba, Iponri and the National Stadium side, is described in the Surulere area guide.

What is on Bode Thomas Street

Bode Thomas is known first as a banking and retail street. Most of the major banks have a branch on it, and between them are fast-food outlets, restaurants, pharmacies, boutiques, phone and electronics shops, offices, schools and places of worship. Many of the business premises are converted houses; others are purpose-built plazas of shops and offices. The street stays active into the evening.

Housing on the street itself is mostly blocks of flats, some above or behind shops, and a number of older family houses that have not yet been redeveloped. The adjoining streets are more residential: low-rise blocks of 2 and 3-bedroom flats, older detached houses and, increasingly, new apartment blocks on redeveloped plots.

What property is like, and what it costs

The indicative annual rent for a 2-bedroom flat on and around Bode Thomas is ₦800,000 – ₦1,600,000. Where a flat falls in that range depends on the stock: a large share of the flats here are in older walk-up blocks with shared compounds, limited parking and variable water and power arrangements.

For comparison, the indicative ranges for the wider district are:

• Surulere 2-bedroom flat: ₦700,000 – ₦1,800,000 per annum
• Surulere 3-bedroom flat: ₦1,200,000 – ₦2,800,000 per annum

So where does Bode Thomas sit? It depends on the building. Older flats on the noisy frontage are in the lower part of the Surulere market, because tenants trade quiet and parking for convenience. Renovated and newly built flats on the quieter adjoining streets, with a borehole, a prepaid meter, parking and backup power, are priced in line with the district ranges above and can reach the upper part of them because the location is so central. Shops and offices on the frontage are a separate market and are priced by visibility and footfall, not by the residential ranges.

To see what is available, browse 2-bedroom flats for rent in Surulere, 3-bedroom flats for rent in Surulere or flats for rent in Bode Thomas.

Getting around from Bode Thomas

Buses, tricycles and ride-hailing cars are plentiful on the street and on the roads at either end. Surulere is one of the closest mainland districts to Lagos Island, with routes through Iganmu and Costain and through Ojuelegba and Western Avenue; is Surulere mainland or island? explains the geography. The cost of that convenience is congestion. The street is slow at peak hours, roadside parking narrows it further, and some sections hold water after heavy rain.

Who Bode Thomas suits

• Workers who commute to Lagos Island, Apapa, Yaba or Ikeja and want a central mainland base
• Young professionals and couples who want banks, food and shops within walking distance
• Retailers, food businesses, clinics and service firms that need footfall and a recognised address
• Investors buying older houses on the adjoining streets to redevelop into flats

If you want a calmer street at a similar budget, look at Aguda within Surulere, or compare Yaba next door. Areas in Lagos mainland sets Surulere beside the other mainland districts.

What to check before you rent or buy

• Noise and parking: visit on a weekday afternoon and on a Sunday morning, and ask where you and your visitors can park.
• Building condition: many blocks are decades old; look at the roof, wiring, plumbing and the shared areas.
• Water and power: ask about the borehole, the meter and how generator costs are shared.
• Drainage: check the street and the compound entrance after rain.
• Title, for a purchase: have a solicitor search the title at the Lagos State Lands Registry and confirm any consent that is needed before you pay.

Own a flat, shop or office here? List your property on Cabans and name the street in the title.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Bode Thomas Street?

Bode Thomas Street is in Surulere, in Surulere Local Government Area on the Lagos mainland. It is one of the main streets of central Surulere, connecting with Eric Moore Road on one side and with Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, the main shopping street of Surulere, on the other.

Which local government is Bode Thomas under?

Bode Thomas Street is under Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Is Bode Thomas Street residential or commercial?

It is mixed. The frontage is heavily commercial, with bank branches, shops, eateries, pharmacies, offices and places of worship, while blocks of flats and older houses stand among them and on the adjoining streets.

How much is rent on Bode Thomas Street?

The indicative annual rent for a 2-bedroom flat on and around Bode Thomas is ₦800,000–₦1,600,000, in line with the wider district, where 2-bedroom flats are about ₦700,000–₦1,800,000 a year. Older walk-up blocks sit at the lower end of that range; renovated and newly built flats on the quieter adjoining streets sit at the top.

Is Bode Thomas a good place to live?

It suits people who want banks, shops, food and public transport at the door and a central mainland location with good access to Lagos Island. It does not suit people who want quiet: the street is busy for most of the day, and parking is tight.

Is Bode Thomas on the mainland or the island?

Bode Thomas Street is on the Lagos mainland. Surulere is one of the closest mainland districts to Lagos Island, which is a large part of its appeal.

Browse the area on Cabans: Bode Thomas area page, properties in Surulere. Related guides: Surulere area guide, Aguda, Surulere, Is Surulere mainland or island?