Royal town turned Lekki's busiest apartment market
Price band
LGA
Distance to CBD
Distance to airport
Nearest major road
Area type
01
Overview
Ikate Elegushi, usually shortened to Ikate, is the neighbourhood immediately east of Lekki Phase 1 on the ocean side of the Lekki–Epe Expressway. It is the seat of the Elegushi royal family, whose palace still stands in the old town, and at the same time one of the fastest-densifying property markets in Lagos. In the space of fifteen years its fishing-village lanes have filled with four-storey apartment blocks, serviced terraces and short-let towers, with Elegushi Beach and the Atlantic at the end of the road.
The area's draw is its position. It is the first neighbourhood after the Admiralty Circle toll, so Victoria Island is 15–20 minutes away off-peak, and the restaurants of Admiralty Way are a five-minute drive. Kusenla Road, the main internal spine, links the expressway to Elegushi Beach Road and the cluster of estates along the shoreline. The Lekki Arts and Crafts Market and Meadow Hall School are on its western edge.
Ikate now hosts some of the corridor's most expensive apartments alongside older family compounds, Ilasan's informal settlement and a busy market. Celebrities and young executives rent and buy here for the beach-club lifestyle; investors come for the strongest short-let rates outside Victoria Island. The honest caveats are density, construction noise, patchy drainage on the older streets and traffic on Kusenla Road at peak times.
For buyers who want Phase 1 convenience in a newer building and accept a livelier street scene, Ikate is usually the first place we show.
02
History
Ikate's history runs deeper than almost anywhere else on the peninsula. Awori settlers established the town in the seventeenth century on the wooded plain between the lagoon and the sea, living from fishing, palm oil and farming. The Elegushi chieftaincy, later elevated to an obaship, held land that once stretched from Ojota along Kuramo Waters and east through Ilasan, Mayegun and Ologolo. A 1941 court case with the Oniru family fixed the modern boundary with what became Oniru and Victoria Island.
Chief Dauda Fasanya Elegushi led the town for over four decades from 1948, and the 1979–81 Maroko–Epe road brought the first tarmac. His successor Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi, crowned in 1991 as the first Oba, oversaw the transformation from village to kingdom: he encouraged schools, a modern palace and the leasing of family land to developers as Lekki boomed. Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla III, on the throne since 2010, has continued that path, and Elegushi Beach became Lagos' best-known private beach under the royal family's management.
The 2010s brought the apartment wave: Kusenla Road was widened, the Alma Beach Estate and Meadow Hall School opened, and by the early 2020s Ikate had become synonymous with luxury flats and short-lets.
03
Location & Neighbours
Ikate sits on the southern side of the Lekki–Epe Expressway between Lekki Phase 1 and Ilasan, roughly 2 km east of the Admiralty Circle toll plaza. Lekki Phase 1 and its Freedom Way border it to the west, Ilasan and Jakande lie to the east, and the Atlantic coast with Elegushi Beach forms the southern boundary. Across the expressway to the north are Lekki Phase 1's Marwa end and the lagoon-side Lekki Phase 2 and Ikate-Ilasan schemes.
Kusenla Road runs south from the expressway through the heart of the neighbourhood to the beach estates; Elegushi Beach Road and Salem Street are the other key internal routes, and Freedom Way offers a back door into Phase 1. Landmark Beach and Oniru are a ten-minute drive west along the coast road.
04
Who Lives Here
Ikate has one of the youngest and most visible populations in Lekki. Musicians, actors and media personalities own homes on the beach side, and several household names in Afrobeats are reported to live here, which has given the area a certain glamour. Around them are young professionals in finance, tech and the creative industries renting two- and three-bedroom flats, plus a steady flow of diaspora visitors and business travellers in serviced apartments.
The old town around the palace and Elegushi Modern Market remains home to indigenous Awori families and traders, giving Ikate a mix of long-standing community and new money that most Lekki neighbourhoods lack. Family households cluster in estates such as Alma Beach, Cowrie Creek and Stillwater Gardens. Life is sociable and beach-led, with weekends at Elegushi, Landmark and the Kusenla Road lounges.
05
Real Estate
Ikate is an apartment market first. The typical new build is a four- to six-storey block of two- and three-bedroom flats with lifts, a pool, gym and shared power, finished to a serviced standard and frequently sold to investors for short-let operation. Asking prices for two-bedroom flats run from about ₦150M to ₦250M and three-bedroom flats from ₦200M to ₦350M; rents are ₦6.5M to ₦15M for two beds and ₦8M to ₦20M for three beds, with fully serviced units higher. Mini flats start at around ₦2M to ₦4M.
Houses are mostly four- and five-bedroom terraces and semi-detached duplexes inside estates off Kusenla Road and Elegushi Beach Road, priced from around ₦230M to ₦420M for terraces and ₦350M to ₦900M for semi-detached; fully detached beachside homes reach ₦1.2B and beyond. House rents range from ₦8M for a terrace to ₦25M–₦30M for a detached or large semi-detached duplex.
Land is scarce and expensive. Plots of 500–700 sqm near Kusenla Road or the beach list from roughly ₦450M to ₦900M, and most are bought for apartment development. Trends: continuing densification, a premium for sea views and proximity to Phase 1, and the strongest short-let nightly rates in Lekki. Investors should model realistic occupancy, confirm the building's power and water arrangements, and check title carefully since much land here derives from Elegushi family leases; insist on Governor's Consent or a registered deed.
Typical asking figures, updated 2026
Type
Typical asking price
Flat Rent
₦6M – ₦20M / yr
House Rent
₦8M – ₦30M / yr
Flat Sale
₦150M – ₦350M
House Sale
₦230M – ₦1.2B
Land Sale
₦450M – ₦900M per plot (≈ 500–700 sqm)
Shortlet Nightly
₦80k – ₦250k / night
06
Popular Estates
Alma Beach Estate: beachfront estate that also houses Meadow Hall School, popular with families. Cowrie Creek Estate: gated terraces and detached homes near the creek. Stillwater Gardens Estate: established family estate with good roads and drainage. Seagate Estate: modern terrace scheme on the beach side. Richmond Gate Estate and Brown State Lekki Estate: mid-sized gated schemes of semi-detached houses. Springville Estate, Spring Bay Estate and Horizon Court Estate: popular terrace estates off Kusenla Road. Safe Court Apartments: one of the larger serviced apartment complexes. Vintage Park Estate and Haven Homes: newer developments with a mix of flats and terraces. Kusenla Road and Salem Street themselves are lined with the apartment blocks that define the current market.
07
Transport
Ikate is the best-connected part of Lekki after Phase 1. The Elegushi and Ikate bus stops on the Lekki–Epe Expressway are 2 km past the Admiralty Circle toll, so Victoria Island is 15–20 minutes off-peak and Ikoyi about the same via the Lekki–Ikoyi Link Bridge. Freedom Way gives an alternative route into Phase 1 and on to the bridge, avoiding the expressway bottleneck at the toll.
Peak-hour traffic is still real: the expressway backs up from Ikate towards the toll in the mornings, and Kusenla Road jams between 5pm and 8pm as residents and short-let guests return. Danfo buses and LAGBUS stop on the expressway; keke tricycles run the length of Kusenla Road; ride-hailing is instant. The Lekki Phase 1 ferry jetty is a short drive away for a 15-minute water crossing to Falomo. Estate roads are paved, but the older Ilasan-side streets are narrower and prone to waterlogging.
08
Schools
Meadow Hall School and Meadow Hall College, in Alma Beach Estate, are the anchor institutions and among the most sought-after in Lagos. Greensprings School's Lekki campus and Corona School Lekki are a short drive away, and Lagoon School, Lekki British International School and Children's International School are within 10–15 minutes in Phase 1 and along the expressway.
Nursery and primary options inside Ikate include a number of Montessori and faith-based schools along Kusenla Road and in the estates, and several British-curriculum primaries operate out of Ilasan and Jakande next door. The old town has public primary and secondary schools serving the indigenous community. For tertiary study, Pan-Atlantic University and Lagos Business School are about 30 minutes along the expressway, and the University of Lagos is reachable across the Third Mainland Bridge in under an hour off-peak.
09
Healthcare
Ikate's residents are close to the best private hospitals in Lagos. Reddington Hospital, Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital and Lagoon Hospital's Victoria Island and Ikoyi facilities are all within 15–25 minutes, and Lagoon Hospital also serves the Lekki corridor. Locally, a number of private clinics and maternity hospitals operate along Kusenla Road and in Ilasan, and Perez Medcare and Upsilon Care in Osapa London are ten minutes east.
Pharmacies such as HealthPlus and Medplus have branches in Lekki Phase 1 and along the expressway, and diagnostic laboratories and dental practices are found in the plazas near the Elegushi bus stop. The Lagos State General Hospital at Lekki and the Ikate primary health centre provide public care.
10
Leisure & Shopping
Elegushi Beach is the centre of Ikate life: a privately managed beach with a Ferris wheel, horse rides, quad bikes, beach huts and a run of clubs and restaurants that fill up every weekend. Landmark Beach and Oniru Beach are ten minutes west. The Lekki Arts and Crafts Market on the expressway is the largest craft market in Nigeria and the place for carvings, textiles and gifts. Elegushi Modern Market and Itedo Market cover fresh produce, and Blenco African Market and Pearl Market serve everyday grocery needs.
For mall shopping, The Lennox Mall in Lekki Phase 1 is a five-minute drive and The Palms in Oniru about fifteen; Circle Mall in Osapa London is ten minutes east. Leisure Sports Park offers paintball, basketball, volleyball and five-a-side pitches, Family Affairs Plaza combines salon, spa and nail services, and Komfort Wellness Place is a local spa. Gyms and pools are standard in the newer apartment complexes.
11
Dining
Ikate's dining runs from beach-front grills to polished restaurants. Kos Lagos is a well-known Kusenla Road spot for contemporary Nigerian and continental dishes, Hungrybelly Restaurant serves generous local plates, and Upbeat Bites is a popular café and bakery. The restaurants at Elegushi Beach and Landmark Beach make seafood lunches a weekend ritual.
The full Admiralty Way strip in Lekki Phase 1, with RSVP, Circa and dozens of others, is five minutes away and effectively part of Ikate's dining scene. For Nigerian food, the old town and Ilasan have well-patronised bukas and amala joints, and the suya and grilled fish stands near the Elegushi bus stop run late into the night.
12
Nightlife
Ikate is one of Lagos' nightlife centres. The Elegushi Beach strip hosts Mood, Wave and Moist beach clubs and a rotating line-up of weekend parties, and Landmark Beach next door adds more. Stories Lounge and Bambooka are established lounges in the neighbourhood, and Kusenla Road and Salem Street have a fast-changing set of rooftop bars attached to the new apartment towers.
Admiralty Way and Freedom Way lounges in Phase 1 are a short ride away. The flip side is noise: beachside and Kusenla Road addresses can be loud on Friday and Saturday nights, so families tend to choose the inland estates such as Stillwater Gardens and Cowrie Creek.
13
Places of Interest
The Elegushi Palace in the old town is the seat of the Oba of Ikate and the focal point of annual festivals and cultural events. Elegushi Beach is both a landmark and an institution, and the Lekki Arts and Crafts Market is a must-visit for first-time arrivals in Lagos. The Nike Art Gallery on the expressway is minutes away.
Bay Atlantic Tower on the expressway is a notable commercial address. Worship centres include the Ikate Central Mosque, serving the largely Muslim indigenous community, and large parishes of RCCG, Catholic and Pentecostal churches along Kusenla Road. The Alma Beach shoreline and the creek behind Cowrie Creek Estate are pleasant for evening walks.
14
Security
Estates in Ikate are gated with guards and CCTV, and the newer apartment complexes typically have 24-hour security, access control and fenced car parks. The Maroko police division and the Ilasan police station cover the area, with the Neighbourhood Safety Corps and Rapid Response Squad active on the expressway and Kusenla Road.
Candidly, Ikate's density and short-let traffic bring more petty crime than quieter parts of Lekki: phone snatching around the bus stop, occasional car break-ins on unlit streets and disputes at beach venues late at night. Flooding on the Ilasan side can close roads. Choose a building with a proper facility manager and avoid ground-floor street-facing units on the busiest roads.
15
Pros & Cons
Pros
Minutes from Lekki Phase 1 and 15–20 minutes from Victoria Island
Highest short-let rates and occupancy in the Lekki corridor
Elegushi and Landmark beaches on the doorstep
Largest choice of new serviced apartments in Lekki
Meadow Hall and other leading schools close by
Cons
Dense and noisy, with constant construction and weekend party traffic
Kusenla Road and the toll approach jam at peak hours
Drainage is poor on older Ilasan-side streets
Land is expensive and title history needs careful checking
Prices now approach Phase 1 for the best buildings
16
FAQs
Is Ikate a good place to live?
Yes for young professionals, couples and anyone who wants beach life near Lekki Phase 1. Families can find calmer streets in estates such as Stillwater Gardens and Alma Beach. Expect density, noise at weekends and traffic at the toll approach.
How much is rent in Ikate Elegushi?
Typical asking rents are ₦2M–₦4M for a mini flat, ₦6.5M–₦15M for a two-bedroom flat, ₦8M–₦20M for a three-bedroom flat and ₦8M–₦30M for terraces and duplexes, with serviced units at the top of each range.
How much does a flat cost in Ikate?
Two-bedroom flats list from around ₦150M to ₦250M and three-bedroom flats from ₦200M to ₦350M. Beach-facing and fully serviced buildings command a premium.
Is Ikate good for short-let investment?
It is the strongest short-let market in Lekki, with nightly rates of roughly ₦80k to ₦250k. Returns depend on occupancy, power costs and management quality, so budget realistically and check the building's track record.
What is the difference between Ikate and Lekki Phase 1?
Lekki Phase 1 is the planned government scheme west of Ikate, with larger plots and more detached houses. Ikate is the adjoining royal town that has become a dense apartment and short-let market; it is slightly cheaper for equivalent flats.
How far is Ikate from Victoria Island?
About 9 km. It is 15–20 minutes off-peak via the expressway or the Lekki–Ikoyi Link Bridge, and 45–60 minutes in the morning rush.
Who is the Oba of Ikate?
Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla III, has reigned since 2010, succeeding his father Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi, the first Oba of Ikate, who was installed in 1991.
Does Ikate flood?
Parts do, especially the older streets towards Ilasan and some low-lying plots near the creek. Newer estates and apartment blocks generally have better drainage; ask about the rainy season before committing.
Enquire about Ikate
Speak with a CW Real Estate advisor for pricing, availability, and viewings in this neighbourhood.
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