What Lagos’ New Master Plan Means for Urban Growth &  Real Estate

I don’t often use the word “transformational” lightly. But when Lagos State rolls out a two-decade master plan to recalibrate the future of Lekki-Ibeju, the word finds its place.

According to the People’s Gazette, on April 11, 2025, the Lagos State Government formally unveiled its Lekki-Ibeju Model City Plan, an urban development roadmap spanning 2024 to 2044. This is an actionable blueprint crafted with precision and centred around strategic sectors: tourism, housing, agriculture, the blue economy, and industrial development.

But this launch wasn’t spontaneous. It was a culmination of months of groundwork. As far back as February 19, the Lagos State Government began opening up the process for citizen participation. From February 26, residents and stakeholders were invited to inspect and critique the draft plan during a one-week public review that ran through early April.

The aim is simple: co-creation. The Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development made it clear this plan wouldn’t be done in isolation. According to Dr Oluyinka Olumide, in a statement released by Deputy Director Mukaila Sanusi and reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the government sought to ensure that the final plan reflects not just expert insight but community needs and aspirations.

Here’s what this means without the fluff:

The Lekki- Ibeju Model City Plan is not a rehash of the broader Lekki Comprehensive Master Plan. It’s a bespoke plan tailored for the Lekki-Ibeju region, which has rapidly evolved into a high-stakes investment and development zone.

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide, according to the People’s Gazette, emphasized the Model City Plan as a tool for sustainable, flexible, and globally integrated urbanism. This isn’t about catching up it’s about building a city that sets new standards for what “modern Africa” would look like.

This plan doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It aligns directly with Governor Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda for turning Lagos into a 21st-century economy. And if you zoomed in, the infrastructure puzzle pieces are already on the table:

• The Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Complex is operational, recalibrating Nigeria’s industrial base.
• Lekki Deep Seaport has launched with active cargo movement.
• Lekki Free Trade Zone is expanding into a regional commerce nucleus.
• Alaro City is building mixed-use smart districts.
• The proposed Lekki International Airport is progressing through feasibility and regulatory stages.
• The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Green-Line Rail Project are set to revolutionize accessibility.

In summary, Lagos isn’t just announcing projects it’s building connective tissue between them.

Urban master plans are only as meaningful as their execution. But here’s why this one is different:

1. Community-Centric Design: The plan includes extensive public consultation. Stakeholders, traditional rulers, former council chairs, and market leaders aren’t just observers; they’re contributors.
2. Youth & Inclusion-Focused: Expect major investments in youth empowerment, social equity, and tech integration essentials for a region with a booming young population.
3. Transit-Oriented Planning: We’re talking about scalable public transportation that integrates with key economic zones, reducing the “live vs. work” dilemma.

This isn’t just a framework for infrastructure. It’s a blueprint for lifestyle architecture for how people live, move, and build wealth over time.

If you’re reading this, you already understand that real estate decisions shouldn’t hinge on short-term noise. This is the signal.

The Lekki-Ibeju plan sets the foundation for sustained long-term value economic, environmental, and human. If you’re investing, developing, or simply observing, what’s unfolding here is the early chapter of Lagos’ next economic frontier. And at Eden Oasis Realty, we’re not waiting for change to happen. We study the data, we engage with policymakers, and yes, we live the Lagos vision. Daily.

I’ll keep you informed as this plan moves from policy to pavement. Because in a city like Lagos, where the skyline evolves with intention, insight isn’t optional it’s essential.

Until next time, stay informed and ahead.

 Eden OasisEden Oasis Realty, 4th floor Kunech properties, Km 18 Osapa, Lekki Penninsula II, Lekki Lagos., Lekki, Lagos, 100001, Nigeria