Ikeja is the
capital city
A capital city or capital is the municipality holding primary status in a country, state, province, Department (country subdivision), department, or other subnational entity, usually as its seat of the government. A capital is typically a city ...
of
Lagos State
Lagos State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Èkó) is a States of Nigeria, state in South West (Nigeria), southwestern Nigeria. Of the 36 States of Nigeria, states, it is both the List of Nigerian states by population, most populous and List of Nigerian state ...
in southwestern
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
. Its population, as of the 2006 census, is 313,196. Prior to the emergence of military rule in the early 1980s, Ikeja was a well planned, clean and quiet residential and commercial town with shopping malls, pharmacies and government reservation areas. It lies 10.5 miles (17 km) northwest of
Lagos city. The
Murtala Muhammed International Airport
Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) ( yo, Pápá Ọkọ̀ Òfurufú Káríayé Múrítàlá Mùhammẹ̀d) is an international airport located in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria, and is the major airport serving the entire state. The ai ...
is located in the city. Ikeja is also home to
Femi Kuti
Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti (born 16 June 1962), popularly known as Femi Kuti, is a Nigerian musician born in London and raised in Lagos. He is the eldest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti and a grandchild of political campaigner, women's ri ...
's Africa Shrine and
Lagbaja
Bisade Ologunde (in Lagos, 1960) is a Nigerian afrobeat musician, singer-songwriter and percussionist. Widely known as Lágbájá for his signature use of mask which covers his identity. He believes in social reform through music.
Early life and ...
's Motherland, both venues for live music. Its
Ikeja City Mall
The Ikeja City Mall is located at Alausa in Ikeja, Lagos State. It is the first of its kind on the Mainland of Metropolitan Lagos. There is a Silverbird cinema in the mall as well as Shoprite, eateries, clothing brands and clothing stores and di ...
is the largest mall on the Lagos State mainland. Ikeja also has its own radio station, broadcasting both in English (
Eko FM
Eko FM was established in 1997 as the sister station of Radio Lagos.
EkoFM was created to provide information to Yoruba people.
Many Lagosians rely on this channel to keep them updated, as it broadcasts
Broadcasting is the distribution of a ...
) and in Yoruba (
Radio Lagos
Radio Lagos 107.5 FM (also known as Tiwa n' Tiwa) began operations in 1977 as an offshoot of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). It is the first state-owned FM radio station in Lagos State.
The station originally operated on two A.M. ...
).
History
Ikeja, which was formally called "Akeja", was named after a deity of the Awori people of Ota. It was originally settled by the Awori people, and the area was raided for slaves until the mid-19th century. Early in the 20th century it became an agricultural hinterland for Lagos. The opening of the Lagos-Ibadan railway in 1901 and the growth of Lagos as a port transformed Ikeja into a residential and industrial suburb of that city. In the mid-1960s an industrial estate was established, and in 1976 Ikeja became the capital of Lagos state.
Government and Infrastructure
The local government administrative headquarters of Ikeja is located within the Ikeja Local Government premises. As of June 2019, the Chairman (Mayor) of Ikeja's local government is Engr. Mojeed Balogun.
The
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria
Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is a service organization statutorily charged to manage all Commercial Airports in Nigeria and provide service to both passenger and cargo airlines. Generally, to create conditions for the development i ...
has its headquarters in Ikeja on the grounds of Murtala Muhammad Airport. The
Accident Investigation Bureau of the Nigerian government is headquartered in Ikeja. The
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is the civil aviation authority of Nigeria.
the Director General of NCAA is Captain Muhktar Usman.
The current Director General is Capt. Musa Shuaibu Nuhu.
Offices
Its head office (Corporate Headquart ...
(NCAA) has its head office in Aviation House on the grounds of the airport; this was formerly just the Lagos office.
Economy
Several airlines have their head offices located in Ikeja.
Arik Air
Arik Air is a Nigerian airline operating mainly from two hubs at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Arik Air's head office is the ''Arik Air Aviation Center'' on the grounds of Mu ...
's head office is in the Arik Air Aviation Centre on the grounds of Murtala Muhammed Airport.
Aero Contractors has its head office on the grounds of Murtala Muhammed Airport. Other airlines with Ikeja head offices include
Overland Airways
Overland Airways is an airline based in Ikeja in Lagos State, Nigeria. Its main base is Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, with a hub at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
History
The airline commenced operations in 200 ...
,
Air Peace
Air Peace is a private Nigerian airline founded in 2013 with its head office in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria, the flag carrier and the largest airline of Nigeria and West Africa. Air Peace, which provides passenger and charter services, serves the ...
,
Associated Aviation
Associated Aviation was an airline based in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. It was established in 1996 and operates passenger and cargo services within Nigeria and in West Africa. Its main base was Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. As o ...
, and
Dana Air
Dana Air is a Nigerian airline headquartered in Ikeja and based out of Lagos's Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
History
Due to technical deficiencies in the aircraft used, the Nigerian Aviation Safety Authority (NCAA) again grounded Dana ...
. In addition,
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic, a trading name of Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited and Virgin Atlantic International Limited, is a British airline with its head office in Crawley, England. The airline was established in 1984 as British Atlantic Airways, and w ...
has its Nigerian office in "The Place" in Ikeja.
At one point,
Nigeria Airways
Nigeria Airways Ltd., more commonly known as Nigeria Airways, was a Nigerian airline. The company was founded in 1958 after the dissolution of West African Airways Corporation (WAAC). It held the name West African Airways Corporation Nigeria ( ...
had its head office in Airways House.
Before it was dissolved,
Afrijet Airlines
Afrijet Airlines was an airline with its head office in the NAHCO Building on the grounds of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Nigeria. It was established and started regional cargo operations in 1999. Its main base was Murtala Moh ...
had its head office in the NAHCO Building on the grounds of the airport.
Bellview Airlines
Bellview Airlines was an airline headquartered at Bellview Plaza in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. Founded in 1992 and having had 308 employees, it operated scheduled passenger flights within Africa as well as to London out of Murtala Mohammed Int ...
had its headquarters in the Bellview Plaza. Other now-defunct airlines with head offices in Ikeja include
Air Nigeria
Air Nigeria (originally Virgin Nigeria Airways, and then Nigerian Eagle Airlines) was the national flag carrier of Nigeria, which operated scheduled regional and domestic passenger services. The airline's base was Murtala Mohammed International ...
(formerly Nigerian Eagle and Virgin Nigeria Airways), on the 9th Floor of Etiebets Place,
Sosoliso Airlines
Sosoliso Airlines Limited was a scheduled, domestic, passenger airline. For much of its existence it had its head office in Ikeja
Ikeja is the capital city of Lagos State in southwestern Nigeria. Its population, as of the 2006 census, is 313 ...
, and
ADC Airlines
ADC Airlines was a Nigerian airline owned by Aviation Development Company plc and headquartered in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. It operated domestic scheduled services and regional charter flights. It had applied to be designated on internationa ...
.
A slum in Ikeja was selected by
C. J. Obasi as a
production
Production may refer to:
Economics and business
* Production (economics)
* Production, the act of manufacturing goods
* Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services)
* Production as a stati ...
location for the 2014
Nollywood
Nollywood is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term dates back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in ''The New York Times''. Due to the history of evolving meanings and contexts, there ...
thriller,
Ojuju
''Ojuju'' is a 2014 Nigerian zombie thriller film, written and directed by C.J. Obasi. The film which has a zero-budget, stars Gabriel Afolayan, Omowunmi Dada, and Kelechi Udegbe. It premiered at the 4th Africa International Film Festival, w ...
.
Ikeja also has a main market area called Ipodo Market. This market contains many shops and makeshift stalls where merchants display and sell produce, meat, fish, grains, and other groceries.
Communities
Districts in the city include:
* Anifowose;
* Oregun;
* Ojodu;
* Opebi;
* Akiode;
*
Alausa
Alawusa, commonly known as Alausa is a principal district in Ikeja, the state capital of Lagos State
Lagos State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Èkó) is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Of the 36 states, it is both the most populous and smallest in a ...
;
* Agidingbi;
* Ogba;
* Magodo;
* Maryland;
* Onigbongbo;
* Government Reserved Area (GRA) Ikeja.
Computer Village
![ComputerVillage](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/ComputerVillage.png)
Ikeja is home to a large computer
market
Market is a term used to describe concepts such as:
*Market (economics), system in which parties engage in transactions according to supply and demand
*Market economy
*Marketplace, a physical marketplace or public market
Geography
*Märket, an ...
, popularly known as Otigba. Begun in 1997 as a small market of only 10 shops, the current market now has well over 3000. While most vendors provide the expected computer sales and repair services, it is also possible to find sales and repair services for various types of
office equipment
Office supplies are consumables and equipment regularly used in offices by businesses and other organizations, by individuals engaged in written communications, recordkeeping or bookkeeping, janitorial and cleaning, and for storage of supplies o ...
and electronic devices.
By 2019, the little shops at Computer Village had grown to multiple-storey shopping malls. Many of the single-floor buildings have been developed into larger buildings, housing several shops that distribute and repair mobile phones, laptops, printers and other electronic devices. Nearly all the major Nigerian banks have branches around the market.
As the market is unplanned, it has experienced difficulties in its growth, with some local residents expressing frustration at the market's expansion. Traffic around the area has become very congested, and it can be almost impossible to find a place to park. Furthermore, the electrical infrastructure, which was already unreliable, has become overloaded by the new market, which requires significant amounts of electricity to demonstrate working computer products to potential customers.
Tourist centres
*
Isheri/River Ogun – Cradle of Awori and Lagos indigenous population
* Lagos State Government Secretariat Ikeja House, Alausa, Ikeja
*
Lagos State House of Assembly Complex arliament Building Alausa, Ikeja
* Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau, PSSDC Road, Magodo, Kosofe
*
Lagos Television and Radio Lagos/Eko F.M, Agidingbi, Ikeja
* LASU Ethnography Museum, Oba Ogunji Road, Ogba, Agege
*
Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja ub of aviation in West Africa* Statue of Lagos Idejo Chiefs – megacity’s traditional land gentry
*
Third Mainland Bridge/Outer Ring Road Complex.
Gallery
File:Independence Tunnel, Maryland, Lagos.jpg, Independence tunnel, Maryland
File:Independence Tunnel, Maryland.jpg, Independence Tunnel, Maryland
File:Maryland Express, Maryland Lagos.jpg, Maryland Express
File:Maryland Lane.jpg, Maryland Lane
File:Maryland mall Maryland lagos.jpg, Maryland mall
File:Maryland Tunnel view 2.jpg, Maryland tunnel view
File:Maryland Unity Status, Maryland Lagos.jpg, Maryland Unity Status
File:SIMBIAT ABIOLA WAY, IKEJA.jpg, Simbiat Abiola way, Ikeja
File:SIMBIAT ABIOLA WAY, 3 IKEJA.jpg, Simbiat Abiola way, Ikeja
File:SIMBIAT ABIOLA WAY, 2 IKEJA.jpg, Simbiat Abiola way, Ikeja
File:Ogun river.jpg, Ogun river
The Ogun River is a waterway in Nigeria that discharges into the Lagos Lagoon.
Course and usage
The river rises in Sepeteri Oyo State near Shaki at coordinates and flows through Ogun State into Lagos State.
The river is crossed by the Ikere ...
File:Kanu Ndubuisi Park 07.jpg, Kanu Ndubuisi Park
File:Johnson Jakande Tinubu Park 01.jpg, Johnson Jakande Tinubu Park
File:Johnson Jakande Tinubu Park 24.jpg, Johnson Jakande Tinubu Park
See also
*
Railway stations in Nigeria
Railway stations in Nigeria include:
Maps
UN MapUNHCR Atlas Map Cities served by rail
The East (E) and West (W) lines are connected by the Link Line.
West Line
* Apapa (W) - Lagos. Port ; flour mill ; oil terminals
* Lagos (W) (0 ...
*
Eko Hospital
The Eko Hospital is a private hospital located at Ikeja with annex in Ikoyi, Central Lagos, Surulere, Lagos State Nigeria. This hospital was established in 1982 to succeed Mercy Specialist Clinic, a clinic that operated in the late 1970s ...
*
Surulere
Surulere is a residential and commercial Local Government Areas of Nigeria, Local Government Area located on the mainland of Lagos in Lagos State, Nigeria, with an area of . At the last census in the year 2006, there were 503,975 inhabitants, wi ...
References
{{Authority control
State capitals in Nigeria
Local Government Areas in Lagos State
Local Government Areas in Yorubaland