There are two ways from Ikorodu to Lagos Island: by road or across the water. The road is Ikorodu Road, from Ikorodu town through Mile 12, Ketu, Ojota, Maryland and Jibowu towards the bridges, and the BRT corridor from Ikorodu to CMS runs along it in its own lane for most of the way. The water route is the ferry from the Ikorodu terminals, of which Ipakodo is the main one, across the lagoon to the Island side. It is one of the longest regular commutes in Lagos, heavy towards the Island in the morning and towards Ikorodu in the evening, so which stop or jetty you live near matters more than almost anything else about the house.
The road route, stage by stage
- Your street to Ikorodu Road. Ikorodu is large. From Igbogbo, Ijede, Imota or Odogunyan you first have to get into the town or out to the main road, and that local leg, often on untarred streets, can be the least predictable part of the trip.
- Ikorodu town to Majidun. From the roundabout and the BRT terminal the road runs past Agric and Ogolonto to Majidun. Residents of these communities board on the corridor and skip the town altogether.
- Mile 12. The big food market makes this one of the slowest points on the road. It is also where the original BRT line began before it was extended to Ikorodu.
- Ketu and Ojota. Traffic from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway side joins here, and the inter-state parks at Ojota load all day. Drivers heading for the Third Mainland Bridge leave Ikorodu Road at Ojota for the Ogudu road and join the bridge approach at Oworonshoki.
- Maryland, Anthony, Palmgrove and Onipanu. The straight middle section, with a BRT stop at each.
- Fadeyi and Jibowu. The Yaba end of Ikorodu Road. From here the buses continue through Ojuelegba onto Funsho Williams Avenue, past the National Stadium and Costain.
- Eko Bridge to CMS. The bus route crosses Eko Bridge and ends at CMS on the Marina, with services to TBS as well. Broad Street, Marina and the Idumota markets are reached on foot or by a short ride from there.
The choke points
- Ikorodu roundabout and garage: every local road in Ikorodu feeds into it.
- Mile 12: market traffic, trucks and stopping buses.
- Ketu and Ojota: the merge with Lagos-Ibadan Expressway traffic and the inter-state parks.
- Ojuelegba: the junction under the flyover is slow for much of the day.
- The bridges: Eko Bridge and the Third Mainland Bridge both queue on the Island-bound side in the morning, and repairs on either one push traffic onto the other.
Transport options
- BRT: the corridor runs from the Ikorodu terminal to Mile 12 and on to CMS, with a dedicated lane along most of Ikorodu Road. It is the option most Island workers rely on. Expect long queues at the Ikorodu terminal in the morning rush, and pay with the Cowry card.
- Ferry: boats run from the Ikorodu terminals across the lagoon to jetties on the Island side. Ipakodo, in the Ebute area, is the main terminal, and there are smaller jetties at Baiyeku and Ijede. The state ferry service and private operators both work these waters. Routes, times and landing points change, so check the current service, the landing point nearest your office and the last return boat yourself. Wear the life jacket provided.
- Danfo minibuses: frequent from the Ikorodu garage to Mile 12, Ketu and Ojota, where you change for the Island. They share the general lanes.
- Driving: gives you control of the local leg, but you sit in the general lanes while the BRT passes, and parking on Lagos Island is scarce and expensive. Many drivers park at a BRT terminal or a jetty instead.
- Ride-hailing: available, but over this length of road it is an occasional option rather than a daily one.
How peak direction works
The flow is tidal and it starts early. In the morning the inbound side of Ikorodu Road fills from Ikorodu through Mile 12 and Ketu, and the queues at the BRT terminal and the jetty build before dawn. In the evening it reverses, and the outbound side is slow from Ojota back to Ikorodu. The people who manage it leave home very early, use the bus lane or the boat, or work hours that miss the peaks. The ferry avoids road traffic altogether, but boats do not run late, and weather can suspend services.
What it means for where you rent
- In Ikorodu, the indicative annual rent for a 2-bedroom flat is ₦300,000–₦650,000.
- Executive flats on Lagos Island are indicatively ₦3m–₦10m a year.
That gap is why people accept the journey. To make it workable:
- Choose by the stop, not the area name. Agric, Ogolonto and Majidun are on the BRT corridor; Ebute and Ipakodo are beside the main ferry terminal. A cheaper house deep inside Igbogbo or Imota adds a second commute to the first. The communities are described in areas in Ikorodu.
- Test the full trip, door to desk, at your real departure time on a working day, and test the return.
- If you plan to use the ferry, confirm the current timetable and where it lands before you sign anything.
- Inspect the street after rain. Many inner roads are untarred, and low ground near the lagoon floods.
- If the budget stretches, compare Ketu, Ojota and Maryland, which remove most of the road. See the Ketu location guide and the Ojota area guide.
See what is available: flats for rent in Ikorodu, houses for rent in Ikorodu and flats for rent on Lagos Island. The two ends are described in the Ikorodu area guide and the Lagos Island area guide. Landlords along the corridor can list a property on Cabans.
Frequently asked questions
What is the route from Ikorodu to Lagos Island?
By road it is Ikorodu Road all the way in: from Ikorodu town past Agric, Ogolonto and Majidun to Mile 12, then Ketu, Ojota, Maryland, Anthony, Palmgrove, Onipanu, Fadeyi and Jibowu. From there buses continue through Ojuelegba and along Funsho Williams Avenue to Eko Bridge and CMS, while many drivers leave Ikorodu Road at Ojota for the Third Mainland Bridge.
Is there a BRT from Ikorodu to Lagos Island?
Yes. The Bus Rapid Transit corridor runs from the Ikorodu terminal along Ikorodu Road to Mile 12 and on to CMS on Lagos Island, with services to TBS as well. Buses use a dedicated lane for most of Ikorodu Road, which is the main reason commuters prefer them at peak times.
Is there a ferry from Ikorodu to Lagos Island?
Yes. Boats run from the Ikorodu terminals, of which Ipakodo in the Ebute area is the main one, across the lagoon to jetties on the Island side. The state ferry service and private operators both work the route. Routes, times and landing points change, so check the current service and the last return boat before you depend on it.
Where does traffic build up between Ikorodu and Lagos Island?
At the Ikorodu roundabout and garage, at Mile 12 around the market, at Ketu and Ojota where the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway traffic joins, at Ojuelegba, and on the bridges into Lagos Island. The general lanes on Ikorodu Road are slow for most of the morning peak.
Which direction is the traffic in the morning?
Towards Lagos. The inbound side of Ikorodu Road fills from Ikorodu through Mile 12 and Ketu in the morning, and the outbound side, back towards Ikorodu, is slow in the evening. The ferry is not affected by road traffic, but it has its own queues at peak times.
Is Ikorodu a sensible place to rent if I work on Lagos Island?
It can be, if the rent saving matters more to you than time. It is a long daily trip. It works best for people who live close to a BRT stop or the ferry terminal, who can leave early, or who do not have to be on the Island every day.
Related guides
Areas in Ikorodu · Is Ikorodu mainland or island? · Igbogbo, Ikorodu · Mile 12 location guide · Lagos Island location guide · Areas in Lagos Island
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