When people are discussing the nice or the most expensive areas to live in Ibadan, they constantly refer to Lagos, citing places such as Lekki, Ikoyi, Victoria Island among others. A number of people also believe that there are job opportunities in the Lagos metropolitan area than Ibadan metropolitan area. Our analysis also reveals that some areas in Ibadan are peaceful and there is less traffic on major roads.
Source: Infoprations Analysis, 2021As expected, the rich people live in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki and other highbrow areas in Lagos. However, the richest people are more in Victoria Island, our analysis reveals. They do not hesitate to mention Eko Atlantic, Ikeja, Banana Island, Maryland, Gbagada, Surulere, Ajah and Ogudu as areas one would like to live.
Several indices have been used by professionals in the real estate and construction industries for the classification of these areas in Lagos. In most cases, the use of low population density and socioeconomic status of the people living in the areas have largely contributed to the people’s perception of the areas as highbrow and semi-highbrow.
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While these factors seem to be predominantly used for area classification in Lagos, our checks reveal that it remains difficult to apply the factors absolutely for area classification in Ibadan. Our discussions with a number of professionals, scholars and residents in Ibadan indicate that the city would be difficult to be placed along with the Lagos semi-highbrow and highbrow areas because of the city’s [Ibadan] historical architecture, which the indigenous people are still maintaining.
Source: Infoprations Analysis, 2021For instance, areas such as New and Old Bodija, Iyaganku, Onireke, Jericho/Idi-Ishin, Agodi, Oluyole and Alalubosa which are identical to Lekki, Victoria Island, Ikeja and Surulere still have old and modern architecture. New Bodija to Alalubosa have less than 100 persons per hectare, high income and taste people, according to a number of sources.
These sources have also indicated that Ring Road/Challenge, Eleyele, Felele, Total Garden, Agbowo and Iwo Road are the areas dominated by the middle-income earners. These areas have a population of 100-300 persons per hectare. With high population and buildings, Foko, Beere, Agbeni, Oke-Bola and Oja-Oba areas are high density location in Ibadan.
According to our sources, Akobo, Oke Ado, Imalefealafia, Ososami, Elebu, Alegongo and Kolapo Ishola are coming up in terms of influx of middle-income earners, construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads. In the next decade, the areas are expected to be expensive to live like some of the semi-highbrow areas in Lagos.
Additional reports by Mubaarak Abdulhameed [a Builder and Quality Engineer] and Mariam Akanni [a Real Estate Marketer]