Ikeja is the capital of Lagos state in South-West Nigeria. Its population in 2022 was about 470,000. Before the emergence of military rule in the early 1980s, Ikeja is a well-planned, clean and quiet residential and commercial town with shopping malls, pharmacies and government Reservation Areas.
Understand
[edit]
The city's area is 50 km². It is a part of the Lagos Metropolitan Area.
The River Ogun (or Isheri) is domestic water that starts at Oyo State near Shaki and flows through Ogun State into Lagos State.
Get in
[edit]By bus
[edit]Danfo Bus, yellow and black stripe bus popularly used in Lagos controlled by NURTW, you can board any of the Danfo bus at various bus stop. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Takes about 40 passengers without standing then close to 85 passengers with standing, it formerly runs with passengers purchasing tickets to their various destination but now functions with passengers having a cowry card to make payment, you can have extra money in your cowry card or make payment immediately you want to use BRT, just make sure you tap out after payment when you arrive at you designated bus stop.
- 1 Ikeja Bus Terminal, Simbiat Abiola way. The Ikeja bus terminal acts as the hub of all transport activities within the Ikeja axis, which serves over 50,000 daily passengers and provides access to many destinations such as Oshodi, Ojota, Iyana-ipaja, Maryland, Lekki, Ogba, and CMS. Fully air-conditioned terminal, food courts, shops, ATM gallery, and free WiFi.
By train
[edit]Daily trains between central Lagos and Ibadan calls at Agege, just northwest of Ikeja.
- 2 Agege railway station (Babatunde Fashola Station).
By plane
[edit]- Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos in 10 km away. There are airport cabs available upon arrival, and services on demand like Uber and Bolt are also accessible.
Get around
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Map of Ikeja
See
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- 1 Fela's Shrine, 12a, Adeleke St. M-Sa (24 hours).
- 2 Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, 9 Oba Akinjobi Way, ☏ +234-811-111-4588.
- 3 Kalakuta Museum, 7 Gbemisola St, Allen, Ikeja, ☏ +234 802 313 7307. M-Sa 10AM-6PM, closed Su. Museum dedicated to the late Fela Kuti, Afrobeat music genre pioneer and Pan-Africanist. His mausoleum is right by the front gate.
- Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, 9 Oba Akinjobi Way, ☏ +234-811-111-4588.
- 4 Foot Statue, Berger. A statue of a large foot, erected on a roundabout in 2017.
Do
[edit]- 1 Johnson Jakande Tinubu (JJT) park. An ultra-modern park by House of Assembly beside Lagos State Secretariat Alausa. The park occupies a total land area of approximately 21,880 m². The park was created in honor of the three former governors of Lagos state: Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson (Rtd.), Alhaji Lateef Jakande, and Tola Ahmed Tinubu.
- 2 Kanu Ndubuisi Park, Mobolaji Johnson Ave, Oregun. Daily 10AM-8PM. A public park and green space made for recreation and relaxation. It has a Statue of Legends, a pergola, a waterfall, a children's playground, a lawn tennis court, and a snack stand. The park was named after a former Governor of Lagos State (1977 – 1978), Rear Admiral (Rtd) Ndubuisi Godwin.
- 3 Silverbird Cinema Ikeja, Mall, 174 / 194 Obafemi Awolowo Way, ☏ +234 9026067603. 10AM-11PM. Movie theatre in an ultramodern mall with an array of shops. Food and popcorn vendors available too. Safe and secure environment, parking is metered.
- 4 Viva Cinema, 22 Simbiat Abiola Way, ☏ +234 8172657928. Movie theatre not over crowded and is spacious. Spacious sitting area so people do not have to stand while waiting to see a movie. Popcorn is available and the option of small chops.
Buy
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- 1 Ikeja City Mall, 194 Obafemi Awolowo Way, ☏ +234 806 858 2039. M-Th 9AM-9PM, F Sa 8AM-9PM. Popular mall shopping area in Ikeja with eateries, Shoprite, and Silverbird Cinemas.
- Camera Trader-Nigeria, 5 Ladipo kuku st, Opebi Rd (By Salvation Bus stop), ☏ +234-909-000-1206. Dealers of all kinds of camera.
- I Store Ikeja Mall, Ikeja City mall, Alausa, Obafemi Awolowo way, Oregun, ☏ +234-909-886-9588. M-Sa 10AM-7PM, Su noon-7PM. Electronics Store.
- Ojodu Market, Berger. 5AM-noon. This is a very busy market and you can get almost anything you want here.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Ocean Basket, 9 Obafemi Awolowo way, Oregun, ☏ +234-818-295-1963. M-Th 10:30AM-10PM, F Sa 10:30AM-10PM. Seafood restaurant.
- 2 Labule Restaurant, 22 Simbiat Abiola Way, Jara Shopping mall, ☏ +234-904-355-2918. M-Sa 8AM-9PM.
- 3 Cegeolie Resto Pub, 21 Ladipo oluwole st, Oba Akran. M-Th 10:30AM-11:30PM, F Sa 10:30AM-midnight. Great cocktails; cosy, casual. Vegetarian options.
- 4 Zen Garden, Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja. A sister restaurant to Pearl Garden (VI), Zen Garden is an elegant gourmet Chinese restaurant. Tends to get crowded on weekends, so plan accordingly. Barbequed Pork is a must-have. A bit on the pricier side, dinner with drinks for two approx. ₦10,000-12,000.
- Harzoyka, Oduduwa Cr, GRA, Ikeja. Being the only mid-range Indian restaurant in Ikeja (the other option is the extremely pricey Indian restaurant in Sheraton), Harzoyka is a good choice if you are in Ikeja and don't want to go around the city for Indian food. Food is decent with an average ambiance.
- AAA (formerly Stanley), Olutunda Street, Ilupeju, ☏ +234 17754609. Among the best Indian restaurants in town. Chef Anand makes a wicked Murg Mussalam (comes in a large plate that serves 3-4) - don't miss it. The ambiance is slightly dull, though the quality of food more than makes up for it. Dinner for two (with drinks) approx. ₦7000.
- F&G Suites, Ilupeju (Opp to Bazaar Shop).
- Taj, Ilupeju (adjacent to Shop Perfect, on the same road as Bazaar Shop).
- The Grid Restaurant and Winery, 6 Thomas Ajufo Street, off Opebi Link Rd, ☏ + 234 810 3089 3832. Tu-Su noon-10PM. Dine in. Drive through. Delivery. ₦₦.
- Commint Buka, Majekodunmi St Allen, ☏ +234 909 000 5472. 9AM-8PM daily. Beans and rice, plantain and beef amala and vegetable rice spinach chicken fried rice fish stew goat stew fruit salad jollof rice moin-moin and any other fast food.
Service: Dine in take away delivery
@commintbukalagos on Instagram is their social media platform. ₦. - 5 Grizzly Restaurant, Afolabi Awosanya st Opebi, ☏ +234 908 878 4391. 24 hours Daily. Seafood rice, ogbono soup, seafood pasta, egusi soup, egg sauce and yam, indomie and chicken wings, oatmeal, sausage, vegetable soup, Chinese spaghetti and other Nigerian recipes. Dine in. Take away. Delivery. ₦₦.
Drink
[edit]- Lagbaja's Motherland, Opebi Rd.
- Metro Park, Isaac-John St.
- The Night Shift Colosseum, Salvation Rd (off Opebi Rd). 9PM-5AM. Best music, well arranged, spacious for dancing and sitting.
- Options, Allen Avenue-Toyin St T Point. 10PM-5AM. Good music, spacious.
- Africa shrine. With Femi Kuti, son of the pioneer of Afrobeat music, Fela Kuti.
- Sidewalk Lounge and Bar, variety of drinks, cocktails and food on offer, located in trinity mall, 79/81 Obafemi Awolowo Way.
- Rhapsody’s Ikeja, located in IKeja City Mall. Smoothie, cocktails and meals on request are available, relaxed ambiance.
Sleep
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- PearlWort Hotel, Central Business District, Alausa. Free parking, free Wi-Fi, restaurant, room service. US$85.
- WaterCress Hotels, 48,Oritshe St, off Obafemi Awolowo way. Free parking, free Wi-Fi, restaurant, room service, fitness center, pool/beach towel, hot tub/jacuzzi. Double US$76, executive US$117.
- Shoregate Hotel, 29 Joel Ogunnaike street, GRA. Free parking, free Wi-Fi, restaurant, room service, fitness center, table tennis. Double US$125, executive US$131.
- Radisson Blu Hotel, 38-40 Isaac John Str. Modern rooms & suites in an elegant hotel with a steakhouse, an outdoor pool & a 24-hour gym. (Updated Mar 2022)
- Posh Apartment, 50b Abba Johnson crescent, off Adeniyi Jones Ave., ☏ +234-814-990-6166. It's located in a very good and safe area, the staffs are very friendly and a great hospitality in general, free WiFi, air conditioning, breakfast, parking. ₦10,716.
- 1 Sheraton Lagos, 30 Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Airport Rd, ☏ +234 1 2800100, fax: +234 1 2802280, [email protected]. Close to the MM International Airport in the heart of Ikeja. Offers 325 guest rooms and 7 suites with high speed Wi-Fi access
- 2 Montana Residence, 16 Oduduwa Way, GRA, ☏ +234 903 000 9726. Free breakfast, wifi, a/c, pool, gym. Not too far from airport. ₦17822.
- Hotel 1960, 23 Olufunmilayo Okikiolu Street (off Toyin St), ☏ +234 808 374 5991. Executive and Royal rooms, all equipped with air-conditioning, LCD TV and telephone. Facilities and services are restaurant, bar, garden and conference hall. From US$115.
- Eagles Park 1960, 7 Obokun Close Off Johnson Street, Off Obafemi Awolowo Way, ☏ +234 8083745991. Executive and Royal Rooms, all equipped with air-conditioning, LCD TV and telephone. Facilities and services are functions rooms, restaurant, bar and garden. From US$150.
- 3 Hotel Ibis, Airport Road, Ajao Estate, ☏ +234 14483470, fax: +234 8014615424, [email protected]. The well-known hotel chain has a hotel on the Airport Road, a 5-minute drive from the MM International Airport.
- 4 Welcome Centre Hotels, 70 Airport Rd (5 minutes drive to Lagos International Airport), ☏ +234 8054763801, fax: +234 7087320079, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Modern 4-star hotel, conference and leisure venue of similar standard to Protea but not as expensive £50.
- 5 WoodRidge Hotel, 2Plot 1/3 Lambert Imasuen Dr, Ajao Estate, ☏ +234 8032749921. All rooms equipped and included with air-conditioning, TV with cable channels, Wi-Fi Internet access and buffet breakfast. Some of its facilities and services are restaurant, bar, swimming pool, fitness room/gym airport pick-up and shuttle service. From US$126.50.
- 6 Hotel capitol (Gate Akiode bus stop, 6 Animashaun Cl, opposite Hubmart Mall, opposite Omole phase 1), ☏ +234 906 145 2062.
- 7 Peace Hotel (Spencer Beatrice St, Omole Phase 1), ☏ +234 903 253 3229. ₦7000.