There are two ways from Ikotun to Ikeja. The northern route leaves the Ikotun roundabout on the Idimu road, runs through Idimu to Egbeda, reaches the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway at Iyana Ipaja or Dopemu, and follows the expressway to Ikeja Along. The southern route takes the Ikotun-Egbe road through Ejigbo and Isolo to Oshodi, then turns north to Ikeja. Neither has a rail line or a dedicated bus lane on the Alimosho side, so both depend on ordinary roads that are slow away from Ikotun in the morning and back towards it in the evening.
Route one: Idimu, Egbeda and the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway
- Your street to the Ikotun roundabout. Ikotun is built around its roundabout and market, and most buses load there. Tricycles and motorcycles work the inner streets, some of which flood in the rains.
- The Idimu road. The road leaves the roundabout northwards and runs through Idimu. It is a single busy road lined with shops and bus stops. See the Idimu guide.
- Egbeda. At Egbeda the route divides. One way continues to Iyana Ipaja; the other goes through Akowonjo to Dopemu, which is a little nearer to Ikeja on the expressway. The area is described in the Egbeda area guide.
- Iyana Ipaja or Dopemu. Either way you join the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, inbound towards Oshodi. Iyana Ipaja is the major interchange of the western mainland, with a large motor park and a BRT stop. See the Iyana Ipaja area guide.
- Cement and Mangoro to Ikeja Along. A short run of busy bus stops brings you to Ikeja Along, the stop for Ikeja. From there you cross into Ikeja itself: Computer Village is close by, and Obafemi Awolowo Way, Allen Avenue and Alausa are a local trip further on.
Route two: Ejigbo, Isolo and Oshodi
- The Ikotun-Egbe road. From the roundabout the road runs through Egbe towards Ejigbo. This is the way most Ikotun residents travel to the rest of Lagos.
- Ejigbo and Isolo. The road continues through Ejigbo to Isolo. This stretch is slow in the morning and evening. See the Ejigbo guide and the Isolo guide.
- Oshodi. From Isolo you reach the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and Oshodi, the largest transport interchange in the city.
- Oshodi to Ikeja. Agege Motor Road runs north from Oshodi and becomes the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, reaching Ikeja Along. The Oshodi to Abule Egba BRT uses this road. The airport road, reached from the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, is the alternative for offices on the airport and Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way side of Ikeja.
The southern route is longer on the map for most of Ikeja, but it is useful when the Egbeda side is blocked, and it is the natural choice if your office is nearer the airport than Ikeja Along.
The choke points
- Ikotun roundabout: the market, the bus stops and four busy roads meet at one point.
- Idimu and the Egbeda junctions: stopping buses and turning traffic on a road with little spare width.
- Iyana Ipaja and Dopemu: the merge onto the expressway.
- Ikeja Along: buses stop, passengers cross and vehicles turn into Ikeja, all at one point.
- Ejigbo, Isolo and Oshodi: the slow points of the southern route.
- Rain: several stretches on the Alimosho side hold water, and the whole line slows when they do.
Transport options
- Danfo and korope minibuses: the backbone of this commute. Buses load at the roundabout for Iyana Ipaja, Egbeda and Oshodi. There is rarely a single bus all the way to Ikeja, so expect one change, usually at Iyana Ipaja or Oshodi.
- BRT for the second leg: the Oshodi to Abule Egba corridor calls at Ikeja Along. Joining it at Iyana Ipaja or Oshodi puts you in a dedicated lane for the expressway part of the trip.
- Ride-hailing: available, and most useful outside the peaks.
- Driving: gives you the choice of route on the day, but parking in central Ikeja is tight and the inner Alimosho roads are hard on a car.
How peak direction works
Alimosho is the most populous local government in Lagos State and it is overwhelmingly residential, so in the morning almost everyone is leaving it. Both routes out of Ikotun are slow then, and once you reach the expressway you join the inbound flow from Abule Egba and beyond. In the evening it all reverses. The people who manage it best leave before the rush, change to the BRT for the expressway leg, or work hours that miss the peaks.
What it means for where you rent
- In Ikotun, the indicative annual rent for a 2-bedroom flat is ₦350,000–₦650,000.
- In Ikeja, the indicative annual rent for a 2-bedroom flat is ₦1,200,000–₦3,500,000.
The gap explains why so many Ikeja workers live in Alimosho. To make it work:
- Choose a street with a short, passable trip to the roundabout or to the Idimu road. A cheap flat deep inside adds a second commute to the first.
- Stay far enough from the roundabout and the market to sleep.
- Inspect the street after rain, because lower streets flood.
- Test the full trip, door to desk, at your real departure time on a working day, by both routes, and test the return.
- If the budget stretches, compare Idimu, Egbeda and Iyana Ipaja, each of which removes part of the road.
See what is available: properties in Ikotun, 2-bedroom flats for rent in Ikotun and properties in Ikeja. The two ends are described in the Ikotun area guide and the Ikeja area guide. Landlords along the route can list a property on Cabans.
Frequently asked questions
What is the route from Ikotun to Ikeja?
There are two. The northern route leaves the Ikotun roundabout on the Idimu road, runs through Idimu to Egbeda, and reaches the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway at Iyana Ipaja, or at Dopemu by way of Akowonjo, and then follows the expressway to Ikeja Along. The southern route takes the Ikotun-Egbe road through Ejigbo and Isolo to Oshodi and then turns north to Ikeja.
Which route from Ikotun to Ikeja is better?
Neither is reliably better. The Idimu and Egbeda route is the more direct line to Ikeja Along and is the usual choice. The Isolo and Oshodi route suits offices on the airport and Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way side of Ikeja, and it lets you finish the trip on the BRT from Oshodi. Try both at your real travel time.
Is there a BRT from Ikotun to Ikeja?
Not from Ikotun itself. The Oshodi to Abule Egba BRT corridor runs along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and calls at Ikeja Along, so you can join it at Iyana Ipaja on the northern route or at Oshodi on the southern route. The first leg out of Ikotun is by minibus.
Where does traffic build up between Ikotun and Ikeja?
At the Ikotun roundabout, at Idimu and the Egbeda junctions, at Iyana Ipaja and Dopemu on the expressway, and at Ikeja Along. On the southern route the slow points are the Ejigbo and Isolo stretch and Oshodi itself.
Which direction is the traffic in the morning?
Away from Ikotun. Alimosho is mainly residential and its residents work elsewhere, so the roads towards Egbeda and Iyana Ipaja and towards Isolo and Oshodi are slow in the morning, and the same roads are slow back towards Ikotun in the evening.
Is Ikotun a sensible place to rent if I work in Ikeja?
For many people it is, because the rent is a fraction of what Ikeja costs and buses run constantly. The cost is a slow and crowded trip in both directions. Choose a street within easy reach of the roundabout or the Idimu road, and test the journey before you pay.
Related guides
Ikotun area guide · Areas in Ikeja · Abule Egba to Ikeja commute · Ayobo to Ikeja commute · Oshodi area guide · Is Ikotun mainland or island?
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