Ikeja

The name of Ikeja is said to be an abbreviation from Ikorodu and Epe Joint Administration.[2] 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.[3]

The Local Government administrative headquarters of Ikeja are located within the Ikeja Local Government premises. As of June 2019, the Chairman (Mayor) of Ikeja's local government is Engr. Mojeed Balogun.[4]

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has its headquarters in Ikeja on the grounds of Murtala Muhammad Airport.[5] The Accident Investigation Bureau of the Nigerian government is headquartered in Ikeja.[6] The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has its head office in Aviation House on the grounds of the airport;[7] this was formerly just the Lagos office.[8]

Several airlines have their head offices situated in Ikeja. Arik Air's head office is in the Arik Air Aviation Centre on the grounds of Murtala Muhammed Airport.[9] Aero Contractors has its head office on the grounds of Murtala Muhammed Airport.[10][11] Overland Airways has its head office in Ikeja.[12] Other airlines with head offices in Ikeja include Associated Aviation and Dana Air.[13][14] In addition, Virgin Atlantic has its Nigerian office in "The Place" in Ikeja.[15]

At one point, Nigeria Airways had its head office in Airways House.[16][17][18] Before it was dissolved, Afrijet Airlines had its head office in the NAHCO Building on the grounds of the airport.[19] Bellview Airlines had its headquarters in the Bellview Plaza.[20] Other now-defunct airlines with head offices in Ikeja include Air Nigeria (formerly Nigerian Eagle and Virgin Nigeria Airways), on the 9th Floor of Etiebets Place,[21] Sosoliso Airlines,[22] and ADC Airlines.[23]

A slum in Ikeja was recently selected by C. J. Obasi as a production location for his upcoming Nollywood thriller, Ojuju.[24]

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.

Districts in the city include:

• Anifowose
• Oregun
• Ojodu
• Opebi
• Akiode
• Alausa
• Agidingb
• Ogba
• Magodo
• Maryland
• Onigbongbo
• Government Reserved Area, Ikeja

Computer Megacity

Computer Village

Ikeja is home to a large computer market, 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 and electronic devices.[25]

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.[26]

• Railway stations in Nigeria
• Eko Hospital
• Surulere