Lagos Mainland and Island – All you wanted to know!

The majority of Lagos residents (Lagosians) live on the mainland of Lagos, which consists of the main districts of Ebute-Meta, Mushin, Surulere, Agege, Oshodi, Yaba and Ikeja.

Ikeja is the capital of Lagos State and is the most exclusive residential area on Mainland Lagos. Ikeja was once a well-planned and quiet residential suburb, initially built during the colonial period to house the upper classes. The Government Reserved Area (GRA) of Ikeja, in particular, is still home to a number of high-ranking Nigerian officials and their families. Large residential properties can be found here, with accommodation typically in the form of detached houses, bungalows or semi-detached duplexes.

Over the years Ikeja has also developed into a prime commercial and industrial area, with some houses being turned into office complexes. It is also home to Nigeria’s main airport, Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Most roads in Ikeja are paved and the neighbourhood is seen as fairly secure, largely owing to the presence of the Police College and the Ikeja Military Cantonment.

From mainland to island, Lagos offers a range of things to put on your ‘to do’ list, whether you hang out in affluent Ikoyi, commercial Victoria Island or the older and more bustling areas of Yaba or Surulere. If you’re after a slice of the city’s history, stick to Lagos Island, where some of the city’s oldest buildings (or remnants of them) can be found. The Cuban Lodge (40 Odulami St), with its combination of British and Brazilian architecture, is close to the Water House (12 Kakawa St) and Vaughan House (29 Kakawa St). These properties were owned by freed slaves and still stand today, although they’re pretty much used as business premises, rather than buildings of cultural heritage.