Isheri, Lagos: Area Guide for Renters and Buyers

Isheri is the name of more than one place in Lagos, and they are on opposite sides of the city. Isheri North is in Kosofe Local Government Area, beside the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway just past Berger, next to OPIC Estate and the Ogun State boundary. Isheri-Olofin and Isheri-Osun are in Alimosho Local Government Area on the western mainland, on the Igando, Idimu and Ijegun side. All of them are on the mainland. Most property adverts that say simply “Isheri” with estates and duplexes mean Isheri North; adverts that mention LASU, Igando, Idimu or Ijegun mean the Alimosho side.

The two Isheris, and which LGA each is in

• Isheri North (Kosofe LGA): on the north-eastern edge of Lagos, in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area. It lies between the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Ogun River, with Ojodu Berger and Magodo as its Lagos neighbours and OPIC Estate, which is in Ogun State, beside it. It includes the Isheri North GRA, a Lagos State Government residential scheme, and a number of private estates.
• Isheri-Olofin (Alimosho LGA): on the western mainland, on the LASU-Isheri Road, which runs from the Lagos State University end at Iyana Iba through Igando. Idimu and Egbeda are on its other side.
• Isheri-Osun (Alimosho LGA): also spelt Isheri-Oshun. A separate community further south, on the Ijegun side, towards Jakande Estate and the Ejigbo and Isolo area.

The rest of this guide takes them in turn. If an agent or a listing gives only “Isheri”, ask for the nearest bus stop and the local government before you travel to a viewing.

What is Isheri North like?

Isheri North is a newer, lower-density area than most of the mainland. The government scheme has planned roads and large plots with detached houses and duplexes, and around it are private estates of terraces and flats, some finished and some still under construction. It has drawn buyers and renters who like Magodo, Omole and Ojodu but find them too expensive, and people who need quick access to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

• Neighbours: Ojodu Berger is the nearest transport and shopping hub, and Magodo is close by. See the Ojodu Berger guide, the Magodo area guide and Is Berger in Lagos or Ogun?
• The state boundary: OPIC Estate next door is in Ogun State, as are Arepo and Magboro further along the expressway. See Is Arepo in Lagos or Ogun?
• Flooding: this is the main caution. Isheri North lies beside the Ogun River, and low-lying streets here and in OPIC have flooded in past rainy seasons. Estates on higher or sand-filled ground are much less affected.
• Power and water: public electricity is unreliable, so estates and houses run generators, inverters or solar, and water comes from boreholes.
• Services: shops, schools and clinics are growing but are thinner than in older districts; most residents go to Berger, Ojodu, Omole or Ikeja for bigger needs.

Indicative annual rents and buying in Isheri North

The indicative range for a 2-bedroom flat in Isheri North is ₦300,000 – ₦900,000 per annum. Flats in newer estates with good drainage, security and backup power sit at the top; older flats on the lower streets sit at the bottom. Detached houses and duplexes in the government scheme and the better private estates cost more. Browse flats for rent in Isheri North and houses for rent in Isheri North, and budget for the extras with move-in costs in Nigeria.

Buyers come here for land and new houses at prices below Magodo and Omole. Three checks matter more than anywhere else. First, have a surveyor chart the plot to confirm that it is in Lagos State, that it is free of government acquisition and that it is outside any river setback. Second, confirm the title: plots in the government scheme should trace back to a Lagos State allocation, and estate plots to the estate's own root of title. Third, find out how the exact plot behaved in the last heavy rains. Read how to verify a C of O in Lagos and buying land in Lagos; if the plot turns out to be across the boundary, read buying land in Ogun State. Current listings are on properties for sale in Isheri North.

Getting around from Isheri North

Everything depends on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Into Lagos, it leads past Berger to the Ojota interchange and the old toll gate, for Ikeja, Ikorodu Road and the route to the Third Mainland Bridge. Out of Lagos, it crosses the Ogun River at the long bridge and continues to Arepo, Magboro, Mowe and Ibadan. Buses for most parts of Lagos load at Berger, and tricycles and motorcycles link the estates to the expressway. The Berger stretch is one of the busiest in the city at peak hours, and any incident on the expressway is felt at once, so travel your real route at your real hour before you commit.

Isheri-Olofin and Isheri-Osun, on the Alimosho side

The Alimosho Isheris are a different kind of place: long-settled, densely built, affordable communities like their neighbours Igando, Idimu, Ijegun and Ikotun. Housing is mostly tenement houses, bungalows and blocks of flats on streets that grew one by one, with shops and markets on the main roads. Public electricity is weak, most compounds use a borehole or a well, and some lower streets hold water after heavy rain.

Rents follow the rest of the local government. Across Alimosho, the indicative annual rent for a 2-bedroom flat is ₦300,000–₦700,000, and the neighbouring areas are covered in the Ikotun area guide, the Igando guide, the Idimu guide and the Egbeda area guide. From Isheri-Olofin, the LASU-Isheri Road leads one way to Igando, Lagos State University and the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, and the other way towards Idimu, Egbeda and Iyana Ipaja. Browse properties in Alimosho for what is on the market.

Who Isheri suits

• Isheri North: families and professionals who want an estate home near Berger, Ojodu, Omole or Ikeja for less than Magodo costs
• Isheri North: people who travel the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway often, or who work in the Ogun State communities along it
• Isheri North: buyers and builders prepared to do careful checks on title, state boundary and flooding
• Isheri-Olofin and Isheri-Osun: renters who want low rent on the western mainland, and people who work around Igando, Lagos State University, Ikotun, Ejigbo or Isolo

Neither side is a good base for a daily trip to Victoria Island or Lekki. To compare with the rest of the city, see areas on the Lagos mainland.

What to check before renting or buying in Isheri

• Which Isheri: confirm the local government, the nearest bus stop and the main road before you view.
• Flooding: in Isheri North especially, ask residents about the last few rainy seasons, and look for water marks on fences and walls.
• The state boundary: for land, get a surveyor's report that shows which state the plot is in.
• Access road: check the last stretch from the expressway or main road to the gate, in wet weather if you can.
• Estate charges: ask what the service charge or estate dues cover, and how power is provided.
• Who you are paying: confirm the landlord's identity and the agent's authority before money changes hands, and insist on a written agreement and receipts.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

Browse the Isheri North area guide, the Magodo area guide, the Alimosho area guide, properties in Ojodu and properties in Magodo. Related guides: Ojodu Berger, Magodo, CMD Road, Magodo, Omole location guide, Ikotun area guide and renting a house in Lagos. Have a property here? List your property on Cabans.