Moving from Sabo (Yaba) on the Mainland to Lekki on the Island means crossing from the old heart of Lagos over the lagoon to the busy commercial hub. This journey requires careful planning because of heavy daily traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge and the Lekki toll gate corridor. The route is highly active, used by thousands of workers every day, and offers choices ranging from cheap local commercial buses to faster private rides.
Hotspots
Best Time to Travel
To beat the worst gridlock, leave Sabo before 6:15 AM for your morning trip. For afternoon or off-peak travel, the best window is between 11:00 AM and 2:30 PM. Avoid moving between 4:30 PM and 8:30 PM unless you are ready to sit in heavy traffic.
Chance to get bus/car
Normal flow
Hold-up Delay Today
No hold-up
Time you will wait at park
-9 to -4 mins wait
Fare Price Level
Normal Fares
How Road Be Now
Traffic is easing up as the day winds down.
Hold-up delay
+44 mins delay
* Based on regular route reports
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Walk or take a short trek from Sabo bus stop to Yaba Under-bridge.
Board a yellow Danfo bus going straight to Obalende. The driver will head down Herbert Macaulay way and enter the Third Mainland Bridge.
Drop at Obalende final stop, cross the road carefully, and enter another Danfo heading to Lekki / Ajah.
Tell the conductor you will drop at Lekki Phase 1 bus stop or Lekki Second Roundabout depending on your final address.
Always enter the bus with your 'change' or smaller naira notes to avoid long fights with conductors.
Hold your phone inside your bag when boarding at Yaba or Obalende because pickpockets operate fast there.
Check the body of the Danfo for the official Lagos route stripes before you jump inside.
If the bus is taking too long to load at Yaba, look for alternative 'Along' cars parked nearby.
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Safety Rating
Medium - Watch your pockets at Yaba Under-bridge and Obalende bus stops, especially in the dark. Always guard your phones and bags closely. Avoid boarding completely empty commercial buses at night to protect yourself from 'one-chance' criminals.
BRT / Rail / Water
There is no direct BRT lane or inner rail service connecting Sabo directly to Lekki Phase 1. However, you can use standard regulated LAMATA bus connections from Obalende terminal down to the Island.
Distance
28.0 km
Duration
1h 50m
Total Cost
₦1,800 - ₦2,700
Status
Verified Route
How Road Be Now
Traffic is easing up as the day winds down.
Hold-up delay
+44 mins delay
* Based on regular route reports
Bypass the Ikeja Under-Bridge corridor from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM. Traffic builds rapidly due to commercial buses loading along the main road lanes.
Areas Affected
75% confidence based on 12 commuter reports
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Bypass the Ikeja Under-Bridge corridor from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM. Traffic builds rapidly due to commercial buses loading along the main road lanes.
Areas Affected
Herbert Macaulay Way
Because of recent fuel price increases, if you are using public Danfo buses, expect to spend between ₦1,800 and ₦3,000 for a one-way trip. If you choose ride-hailing apps, the cost ranges between ₦8,500 and ₦14,000 depending on traffic surge.
Rarely will you find a direct yellow Danfo from Sabo going straight into Lekki. Most times, you must drop at Obalende or CMS first, then take another connecting bus straight to Lekki and Ajah.
The safest time to cross without getting locked in terrible traffic is between 5:30 AM and 6:15 AM. By 7:00 AM, the rush-hour bottleneck at the Adekunle entry point is already building up heavily.
Keke Napeps and commercial motorcycles (Okadas) are banned from the main Lekki-Epe Expressway. However, you can find internal Kekes and approved estate shuttle buses inside the streets of Lekki Phase 1 to take you to your final doorstep.