Ikorodu LGA — The Industrial Metropolis North of the Lagoon

Overview

Ikorodu is the largest Local Government Area in northeastern Lagos State. Bordering the lagoon, it has undergone explosive urbanization, becoming both a major industrial hub and a key residential base for mainland workers.

Origins of the Name and Early Settlers

The land that became Ikorodu was first used by the sons of King Akarigbo Koyelu of Orile Offin, at Orisa Gaomu (present-day Sagamu) — among them Olusoga (Oga), Lasunwon, Rademo, Anoko, Osonusi, Oladepo, and Sekumade — who used the vast tract for hunting and farming. Before becoming the town known today, the place was called Okorodu, a contraction of "Oko Odu": oko meaning "farm" and odu referring to a plant species used for dyeing cloth. Okorodu eventually simplified to Ikorodu, likely for ease of pronunciation. A traditional settlement of the Awori people, a Yoruba subgroup, the town grew in importance during the mid-19th century as a trading post of the Remo (Ijebu-Remo) kingdom along the route linking Lagos to Ibadan.

The Ayangburen Chieftaincy

The Ayangburen throne has stood for centuries as the central traditional institution of the Ikorodu region, its title passed down through generations. The late Oba Adenaike Alegbe was installed as Adegorushin on Monday, 3 June 1929, before being formally crowned Ayangburen of Ikorodu. That traditional royal anchor continues to shape the town's social and ceremonial life alongside its remarkable industrial and demographic growth in recent decades.

From Traditional Farmland to Industrial Hub

The contrast between Ikorodu's agricultural origins, a simple hunting and farming ground, and its current status as a major industrial zone illustrates just how fast urban transformation moves in Lagos. The textile, plastics, and metalworking factories clustered around the Schemesh industrial zone now employ tens of thousands of workers from across the northeastern metropolis, while fast ferry links to Victoria Island and Lagos Island keep this former trading town firmly connected to the city's economic core, despite its position on the lagoon's edge.

Infrastructure and Connectivity

• River Transport (Ipakodo Ferry Terminal): Fast ferries linking Ikorodu to Victoria Island and Lagos Island in 30 minutes.
• BRT Corridor: A dedicated bus rapid transit lane connecting Ikorodu to Ojota and CMS (Lagos Island).
• Schemesh Industrial Zone: One of the region's largest clusters of textile, plastics, and metalworking factories.

Economy and Local Life

Ikorodu is home to bustling markets (Ayangburen Market), university campuses (Lagos State University of Science and Technology — LASUSTECH), and a traditional heritage centered on the Ayangburen chieftaincy of Ikorodu.

Key figures for the LGA

• Area: 345 km²
• Population at the 2006 census: 536,619 inhabitants

These figures come from the Wikipedia page for Ikorodu (infobox). The same page speaks of "over 1 million inhabitants" without reconciling it with the 2006 figure. The 2006 census is disputed: treat these values as orders of magnitude.