Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island: Street Guide

Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue is the waterfront artery of Victoria Island, in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State. It runs along the Five Cowries Creek on the lagoon side of the island, from the Falomo Bridge and Bonny Camp end to the Lekki toll plaza, where it becomes the Lekki-Epe Expressway. It is lined with large hotels, office towers, event venues and waterfront apartment buildings, and homes with a water view sit at the upper end of the Victoria Island rent range.

Where Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue starts and ends

Victoria Island has a road along each of its long sides. Ahmadu Bello Way follows the Atlantic side, and Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue follows the creek that separates Victoria Island from Ikoyi. At its western end, around Bonny Camp, the avenue connects with the ramps of Falomo Bridge, which crosses to Ikoyi, and with the road towards Onikan and Lagos Island. Akin Adesola Street and Adetokunbo Ademola Street, the main cross streets of Victoria Island, run inland from it.

At its eastern end the avenue reaches the Lekki toll plaza. Beyond the plaza the same carriageway continues as the Lekki-Epe Expressway, with Lekki Phase 1 just beyond it. That makes the avenue the principal road between Lekki and the rest of the Island, and it explains both its commercial value and its traffic. The district as a whole is described in the Victoria Island area guide.

What is on Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue

The avenue is built at a larger scale than the inner streets of Victoria Island. Several of the biggest hotels on the Island face the creek along it, and between them are office towers, bank buildings, car showrooms, restaurants, lounges and event venues. The Civic Centre, one of the best-known event venues in Lagos, is on the waterfront here, and the Lagos campus of the Nigerian Law School is also on the avenue.

At the Bonny Camp end is the 1004 Estate, the large high-rise apartment estate that is one of the most recognisable residential addresses on Victoria Island. Towards the toll plaza end is Oniru, the private estate on the ocean side of the road, and the towers of Eko Atlantic are visible further along the Atlantic front.

Residential buildings on the avenue itself are mostly mid and high-rise apartment blocks, many with creek views, jetties or pools, together with serviced apartments aimed at corporate tenants. Quieter residential streets lie a block or two inland.

What property is like, and what it costs

There are no dependable rent figures for the avenue alone, so use the indicative annual ranges for the district:

• Victoria Island 2-bedroom flat in a managed building: ₦4,000,000 – ₦10,000,000 per annum
• Victoria Island 3-bedroom luxury apartment: ₦6,000,000 – ₦20,000,000 or more per annum

Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue sits at the upper end of those ranges for new, fully serviced waterfront buildings. A water view, a high floor, round-the-clock power, a lift, a pool and a gym, and secure basement parking are what tenants pay for here, and the newest towers are often quoted in dollars. Older blocks on the avenue, and flats that face the carriageway rather than the creek, sit in the middle of the ranges: the address is prominent, but the road is loud and busy. Service charges on managed buildings are substantial and are paid on top of the rent.

Commercial space is priced separately. Office floors, showrooms and restaurant units on the avenue benefit from the visibility of the busiest road between Lekki and the Island, and they are priced accordingly.

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

Getting around from Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue

The avenue gives direct access in three directions: to Ikoyi over Falomo Bridge, to Lekki through the toll plaza, and towards Onikan and Lagos Island from the Bonny Camp end. The mainland is reached through Ikoyi or Lagos Island to the Third Mainland Bridge. The price of that connectivity is congestion. The avenue carries commuter traffic between Lekki and the rest of the Island every morning and evening, and the approaches to the toll plaza and to Falomo Bridge are the usual slow points. Ferries and boat services also operate on the creek, which some residents use to avoid the road. For how this side of the city fits together, see areas in Lagos Island.

Who Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue suits

• Senior executives and expatriates who want a serviced waterfront apartment close to Victoria Island offices
• People whose work or family life is split between Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lekki
• Hotels, corporate occupiers, showrooms and restaurants that want the most visible frontage on the Island
• Investors in serviced and short-stay apartments for business visitors

Tenants who want a calmer street in the same district should compare Adeola Odeku Street and the residential streets around it. Across the bridge, Awolowo Road and Bourdillon Road in Ikoyi are the natural comparisons, and Ikoyi vs Victoria Island sets out the differences. Beyond the toll plaza, Admiralty Way is the main street of Lekki Phase 1.

What to check before you rent or buy

• View and orientation: confirm whether the unit faces the creek or the carriageway; the difference in noise is large.
• Flooding: inspect the road, the entrance and the basement car park after heavy rain.
• Service charge: ask for the written breakdown, the power arrangement and how diesel costs are shared.
• Access at peak hours: drive in and out of the building at rush hour before you commit.
• Title, for a purchase: have a solicitor search the title at the Lagos State Lands Registry, confirm any Governor's consent and review the building's management agreement.

Own an apartment or commercial space here? List your property on Cabans.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue?

Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue is in Victoria Island, in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State. It runs along the Five Cowries Creek on the lagoon side of the island, from the Falomo Bridge and Bonny Camp end to the Lekki toll plaza, where the Lekki-Epe Expressway begins.

Which local government is Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue under?

It is under Eti-Osa Local Government Area, the same local government as the rest of Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lekki.

Is it Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue or Ozumba Mbadiwe Road?

Both are used for the same road. Avenue is the usual form, but adverts, maps and everyday speech often say Ozumba Mbadiwe Road or Ozumba Mbadiwe Street.

What is on Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue?

Large hotels, office towers, the Civic Centre, the Lagos campus of the Nigerian Law School, banks, car showrooms, restaurants, event venues and waterfront apartment buildings. The 1004 Estate is at the Bonny Camp end and Oniru is towards the toll plaza end.

How much is rent around Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue?

There are no dependable figures for the avenue alone. Indicative annual rents in Victoria Island are about ₦4,000,000–₦10,000,000 for a 2-bedroom flat in a managed building and ₦6,000,000–₦20,000,000 or more for a 3-bedroom luxury apartment. Waterfront buildings on the avenue are at the upper end.

Does Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue flood?

Parts of it can hold water after very heavy rain, as it runs beside the creek on low ground. Look at the road, the compound entrance and the basement car park of any building you are considering, ideally in the rainy season.

Related guides

Browse the area on Cabans: Ozumba Mbadiwe area page, Victoria Island area page. Related guides: Victoria Island area guide, Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lekki vs Victoria Island, Areas in Lagos Island.