CMD Road, Magodo: Street Guide

CMD Road is the commercial road that runs from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on the Ikosi-Ketu side to Shangisha, where the gate of Magodo GRA Phase 2 is. It is in Kosofe Local Government Area on the Lagos mainland. The name is short for Centre for Management Development Road, after the federal training institution on it. The road itself is lined with shops, banks, eateries, schools and offices, and the streets off it hold blocks of flats and houses that are advertised as Magodo but sit outside the estate gates.

Where CMD Road starts and ends

The road leaves the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway service lane at the Ikosi-Ketu end, close to the Lagos end of the expressway, and runs inland through Ikosi-Ketu and Shangisha to the Magodo GRA Phase 2 gate. For most Phase 2 residents it is the daily route in and out, which is why it carries so much traffic for its width. Magodo Phase 1, the Isheri side, has its own access and is a separate estate. The two phases, and how the estate works, are explained in the Magodo area guide; for the mainland and island question see is Magodo mainland or island?

What is on CMD Road

The frontage is convenience-led and commercial: supermarkets, bank branches, fast-food outlets and restaurants, pharmacies, fuel stations, private schools, churches, lounges and small office buildings. The Centre for Management Development itself is the landmark that gives the road its name. Most of the businesses serve Magodo Phase 2 and the surrounding neighbourhoods, so residents rarely need to leave the corridor for daily needs.

Homes are concentrated on the streets that branch away from the road, in Shangisha and Ikosi-Ketu: low-rise blocks of 2 and 3-bedroom flats, terraces, detached houses and a growing number of small managed estates. These streets are open, not gated in the way the GRA is, although many have their own street gates and security levies.

What property is like, and what it costs

Indicative annual rents on and around CMD Road are:

• 2-bedroom flat: ₦600,000 – ₦2,000,000 per annum
• 3-bedroom flat: ₦1,000,000 – ₦3,500,000 per annum

Compared with the wider Magodo market, the CMD Road corridor covers the lower and middle of the range. Homes inside Magodo GRA Phase 2, behind the estate gates, are dearer: larger plots, controlled access and estate rules are what buyers and tenants pay for there, and large detached houses in the GRA are priced well above anything on the corridor. Outside the gates, the best-priced homes are the newer managed blocks on quiet streets near the Phase 2 end. Older flats, and buildings that face the main road and take its noise and parking pressure, sit at the bottom of the ranges. Shops and offices on the frontage are priced as commercial space.

To see what is available, browse flats for rent on CMD Road, houses for rent in Magodo or all properties in Magodo.

Getting around from CMD Road

The expressway end is the great advantage: from there you can head towards Ojota, Maryland and Ikeja, towards Berger and Ojodu, or out of Lagos altogether. The weakness is the road itself. Everyone going to or from Phase 2 uses it, the junction with the expressway service lane queues at peak hours, and school runs add to it. Buses and tricycles run along the road, and ride-hailing cars are easy to get. Test the trip at the time you would normally travel before you commit to a home at the far end.

Who CMD Road suits

• People who want the Magodo location and its schools and services without paying for a home inside the GRA
• Professionals who work in Ikeja, Alausa, Ojota or along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
• Retailers, schools, clinics and food businesses that want the daily traffic of Phase 2 residents
• Investors building blocks of flats for the mid-market mainland tenant

Alternatives at a similar budget on the same side of the city include Ojodu Berger, Omole and Ketu.

What to check before you rent or buy

• Inside or outside the GRA: ask plainly whether the property is behind the Magodo Phase 2 gate. An advert that says Magodo may mean Shangisha or Ikosi-Ketu.
• Peak-hour access: drive the road in the morning and evening rush.
• Street levies: ask about security, gate and refuse charges on the street.
• Drainage: inspect the final access street and the compound after rain.
• Title, for a purchase: Shangisha and Magodo have a long history of land disputes. Have a solicitor search the title at the Lagos State Lands Registry and confirm the root of title before you pay anything.

Have a property on the corridor? List your property on Cabans and say clearly whether it is inside or outside the estate.

Frequently asked questions

Where is CMD Road in Lagos?

CMD Road is in Kosofe Local Government Area on the Lagos mainland. It runs from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on the Ikosi-Ketu side towards Shangisha, where the gate of Magodo GRA Phase 2 is.

What does CMD Road stand for?

CMD stands for Centre for Management Development, the federal training institution on the road. The full name is Centre for Management Development Road, but almost everyone says and writes CMD Road.

Is CMD Road inside Magodo GRA?

No. CMD Road is a public road outside the estate gates. It leads to Magodo GRA Phase 2, and properties on it and on the streets off it are usually advertised as Magodo, Shangisha or Ikosi-Ketu, but they are not inside the gated GRA.

Which local government is CMD Road under?

CMD Road, Magodo, Shangisha and Ikosi-Ketu are all under Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State.

How much is rent on CMD Road, Magodo?

Indicative annual rents on and around CMD Road are ₦600,000–₦2,000,000 for a 2-bedroom flat and ₦1,000,000–₦3,500,000 for a 3-bedroom flat. Newer managed blocks on quiet streets close to the Phase 2 gate are at the top; older flats on or near the main road are at the bottom.

Is CMD Road on the mainland or the island?

CMD Road is on the Lagos mainland, at the northern end of the city close to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Browse the area on Cabans: CMD Road area page, Magodo Phase 2 area page. Related guides: Magodo area guide, Is Magodo mainland or island?, Ojodu Berger.