Where I fit find good Gateman / Mai-Guard?

Best source: personal referral, professional agency, and good Facebook group. See di Where to find section.

← All domestic staff role

Gateman / Mai-Guard for Lagos

SecurityLive-in

Mainland

₦25.0K–60.0K

/month

Island

₦40.0K–100.0K

/month

Gateman dey control access to your compound — open/close gate, screen visitor, receive delivery, and provide overnight security. For Lagos, gateman essential for any standalone building. Most gateman na live-in.

📍 Salary by area

Area	Salary range
Banana Island	₦60.0K–150.0K
Ikoyi	₦50.0K–100.0K
Victoria Island	₦50.0K–100.0K
Lekki Phase 1	₦40.0K–80.0K
Ikeja GRA	₦35.0K–60.0K
Yaba	₦30.0K–50.0K
Surulere	₦25.0K–50.0K
Alimosho	₦20.0K–40.0K
Ikorodu	₦20.0K–40.0K

📋 Duties & responsibility

•Opening and closing compound gates
•Screening visitors and recording entries
•Receiving deliveries and packages
•Overnight security watch
•Maintaining gate area cleanliness
•Reporting suspicious activity
•Managing generator start/stop times
•Assisting with minor household tasks (as agreed)

🎓 Qualifications

•No formal education required — most gatemen have primary/secondary education
•Alertness and vigilance
•Physical fitness
•Trustworthiness — they control access to your home
•Basic phone literacy for emergency calls
•Some families prefer ex-military or ex-police for security experience

Lagos.Cool Editorial

4 June 2026 · 2 min read

Lagos.Cool Editorial

Gateman na Lagos most common domestic worker. For city where security na top concern, even middle-income mainland family employ one. Salary range — ₦25,000 (mainland basic) to ₦100,000 (Island professional). Most gateman na live-in, so total cost include accommodation, meals (₦30,000-₦60,000/month), and utilities. Effective cost of ₦40,000/month gateman na really ₦70,000-₦100,000.

⏰ A day for di life

6 PM (night shift start): Take over from day gateman, sweep gate area. 7-9 PM: Receive late delivery, screen visitor. 10 PM: Lock di main gate. Overnight: stay alert, do walk around. 6 AM: Open gate for early commuter, hand over to day shift.

🤔 You suppose hire one?

✓ Hire if:

✓Standalone house or duplex (not in a serviced estate)
✓Frequent deliveries and visitors
✓Children at home in the evenings
✓You travel often and need package management

✗ Skip if:

✗Serviced estate with shared 24-hour security
✗High-rise apartment with concierge
✗Live alone with minimal foot traffic
✗Budget can't accommodate two gatemen for 24-hour coverage

💡 Hiring tips

Live-in gateman need sleeping space — BQ room or guard post
Give food or feeding allowance (₦1,000-₦2,000/day)
For 24-hour coverage, you need TWO gateman on shift
Agree on clear visitor policy

🚩 Red flag wey you suppose watch

✗Sleeping on duty (the most common issue)
✗Allowing unauthorized visitors for personal reasons
✗Excessive alcohol consumption
✗Collusion with external parties (rare but serious)
✗Demanding excessive tips from delivery personnel

✓ Pros

✓24/7 security presence
✓Package and delivery management
✓Compound maintenance
✓Peace of mind — especially for families with children
✓Relatively affordable — most accessible security option

✗ Cons

✗Hidden costs: accommodation + meals + utilities add 50-100% to cash salary
✗Quality varies — untrained gatemen provide limited real security
✗Sleep-on-duty is extremely common
✗Need two for proper 24-hour coverage (doubles cost)
✗Management responsibility — disputes, performance, time off

🔍 Where to find

Village/community networks — most gatemen come through ethnic/religious community referralsSecurity companies (more expensive but professionally trained)Existing gatemen in your estate recommending replacementsNairaland domestic staff forums

FAQ

Gateman / Mai-Guard for Lagos dey earn ₦25,000–₦60,000/month for mainland and ₦40,000–₦100,000/month for Island.