Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba: Street Guide

Herbert Macaulay Way is the main spine of Yaba, in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area. It runs from the Jibowu and Yaba bus stop end through Sabo, Alagomeji and Adekunle, and on through Ebute Metta towards Oyingbo. The stretch around Sabo is the centre of the Yaba technology cluster, and Adekunle gives access to the Third Mainland Bridge. Rents follow the road: highest around central Yaba and Sabo, lower through Alagomeji, and lowest once it reaches Ebute Metta.

The route, stretch by stretch

• Jibowu and Yaba bus stop: the northern end, beside the inter-state bus terminals of Jibowu and the central Yaba shopping area around Tejuosho. It is busy from early morning.
• Sabo: the commercial centre of Yaba, built around Sabo Market and the road itself. This is where the technology companies, co-working spaces, banks and eateries are thickest.
• Alagomeji: the settled residential section between Sabo and Adekunle, with a regular grid of streets off the main road. It is described in the Alagomeji guide.
• Adekunle: the southern end of Yaba, where the road meets the approach to the Third Mainland Bridge.
• Ebute Metta and Oyingbo: beyond Adekunle the road continues through Ebute Metta, an older and cheaper district, towards Oyingbo and on in the direction of Lagos Island. See is Ebute Metta mainland or island?

The whole route is in one local government. How the neighbourhoods along it fit together is set out in areas in Yaba, and the district as a whole in the Yaba area guide.

What is on Herbert Macaulay Way

The road is commercial along almost its whole length, but the character changes. Around Sabo, the frontage holds bank branches, offices, co-working spaces, training schools, bookshops, eateries, cafes, pharmacies and shops, with Sabo Market beside it. The Co-Creation Hub is based on this stretch, and its presence, together with the University of Lagos and Yaba College of Technology nearby, is what turned this part of Yaba into the best-known technology cluster in Nigeria.

Through Alagomeji and Adekunle the uses are more local: shops, churches, schools, small offices, clinics and mechanics, often on the ground floor of residential buildings. Through Ebute Metta the road is older and denser again, with long-established trading streets on either side and Oyingbo Market at the far end.

The streets off the road are where most people live. They are laid out in a regular pattern, and the housing is mostly low-rise: older family houses, storey buildings divided into flats and rooms, and newer blocks where old houses have been redeveloped. Demand from students, young professionals and technology workers has driven a wave of renovation and new building, especially within walking distance of Sabo.

What property is like, and what it costs

There are no dependable figures for the road alone, so use the indicative annual ranges for the neighbourhoods it passes through:

• Yaba overall: 2-bedroom flat ₦450,000 – ₦1,800,000 per annum
• Alagomeji: 2-bedroom flat ₦450,000 – ₦900,000 per annum
• Ebute Metta: 2-bedroom flat ₦200,000 – ₦500,000 per annum

The central stretch, from Yaba bus stop to Sabo, sits at the upper end of the Yaba range. It has the highest demand in the district because tenants can walk to work, to the campuses and to the market, and renovated or newly built flats here, with a prepaid meter, water and backup power, reach the top of the range. Alagomeji sits in the lower half of the Yaba range because much of its stock is older, though its newest blocks can ask more. Ebute Metta is cheaper still, reflecting older buildings, weaker drainage and heavier congestion.

On every stretch, a flat facing the road is louder and usually cheaper than a comparable flat one or two streets back. Self-contained rooms and mini-flats are widely available in this corridor and are popular with students and first-time renters. Shops and offices on the frontage are priced separately, and those near Sabo are the most expensive in Yaba.

To see what is available now, browse 2-bedroom flats for rent in Yaba or all properties in Yaba.

Getting around

Buses run along Herbert Macaulay Way all day, one way to Sabo, Yaba bus stop and Jibowu, the other through Ebute Metta to Oyingbo and on towards Lagos Island. Adekunle gives drivers the Third Mainland Bridge, which makes this one of the closest parts of the mainland to the Island. The road and the Adekunle junction are slow at peak hours, but distances within Yaba are short, and many residents get by without a car. Some streets off the road hold water after heavy rain, more so towards Ebute Metta, so check the exact street.

Who Herbert Macaulay Way suits

• Technology workers, founders and freelancers who want to live within walking distance of the Sabo cluster
• Students and staff of the University of Lagos and Yaba College of Technology
• People who work on Lagos Island and want a short mainland commute over the Third Mainland Bridge
• Start-ups, training schools, clinics and retailers that want a visible, central mainland address
• Investors renovating old houses into flats, studios and co-living space

What to check before you rent or buy

• Which stretch: confirm the nearest bus stop, because Sabo, Alagomeji, Adekunle and Ebute Metta price differently.
• Frontage or inner street: visit at rush hour to hear the road.
• Building age: check the wiring, plumbing and roof of older buildings, and ask what was actually renovated.
• Drainage: inspect the street after rain.
• Title, for a purchase: much of the housing is old family property; have a solicitor confirm who can sell and search the title at the Lagos State Lands Registry.

Have a flat, house or office on this corridor to let or sell? List your property on Cabans.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Herbert Macaulay Way?

Herbert Macaulay Way is in Yaba and Ebute Metta, in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area. It runs from the Jibowu and Yaba bus stop end through Sabo, Alagomeji and Adekunle, and on through Ebute Metta towards Oyingbo. It is the main spine of Yaba.

Which local government is Herbert Macaulay Way under?

It is under Lagos Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State. The Yaba stretch falls within Yaba Local Council Development Area.

Is it Herbert Macaulay Way or Herbert Macaulay Street?

Both names are used for the same road. Herbert Macaulay Way is the usual form, and many adverts and older addresses say Herbert Macaulay Street or Herbert Macaulay Road. Ask for the nearest bus stop, such as Sabo, Alagomeji or Adekunle, to place a property on it.

Why is Herbert Macaulay Way linked with technology companies?

The stretch around Sabo is the centre of the Yaba technology cluster. The Co-Creation Hub, one of the best-known technology hubs in Africa, is based on the road, and start-ups, co-working spaces and training schools have gathered around it, close to the University of Lagos and Yaba College of Technology.

How much is rent around Herbert Macaulay Way?

Indicatively, a 2-bedroom flat in Yaba rents for ₦450,000–₦1,800,000 a year. The central stretch around Sabo is at the top of that range, and the Alagomeji stretch is about ₦450,000–₦900,000. Rents fall again once the road enters Ebute Metta.

Is Herbert Macaulay Way close to the Third Mainland Bridge?

Yes. The Adekunle end of the Yaba stretch is where the road meets the approach to the Third Mainland Bridge, which is why this corridor is one of the closest parts of the mainland to Lagos Island.

Related guides

Browse the area on Cabans: Yaba area page, Sabo area page, Alagomeji area page. Related guides: Areas in Yaba, Yaba area guide, Is Yaba mainland or island?, Areas in Lagos Mainland. Other mainland street guides: Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere.