Lagos shops in markets. Supermarkets and malls exist, and charge for the air conditioning; the market is where the city buys almost everything else, often at wholesale, often from the trader who imports it.
The big ones, by what they sell
| Market | Where | For |
|---|---|---|
| Balogun | Lagos Island | Fabric - ankara, lace, aso-oke - and almost anything else, in a maze of streets |
| Idumota | Lagos Island | Wholesale goods of every kind, next to Balogun |
| Computer Village | Ikeja | Phones, laptops, accessories and repairs |
| Alaba International | Ojo | Electronics and appliances, wholesale |
| Trade Fair complex | Ojo, on the Badagry road | Electrical goods, building materials, furniture |
| Ladipo | Mushin | Car parts, new and used |
| Mile 12 | Kosofe | Food wholesale - tomatoes, pepper, onions by the basket |
| Yaba market and Tejuosho | Yaba | Clothes, including second-hand okrika, and household goods |
| Lekki Arts and Crafts Market | Lekki | Crafts, carvings, fabrics and art |
Every neighbourhood also has its own market for food, and for most weekly shopping that is the one to know.
How to buy
- Haggle. The first price assumes you will. Offer well under it, settle in between, and walk away politely if it does not move — the trader next door sells the same thing.
- Know the price first. Ask in two or three shops before you buy in one. For food, the state’s own price tracker gives a fair benchmark.
- Go early. Traffic around Balogun and Computer Village is brutal by late morning, and traders are fresher.
- Go with someone who knows it, the first time. A friend who speaks Yoruba or Pidgin will pay less than you will.
- Test before you pay. Electronics especially: switch it on, check it works, and check what you are taking home is what you tested.
Stay safe
The big markets are crowded, and pickpockets work them. Carry only the cash you need, keep your phone in a front pocket, and pay large sums by transfer from your banking app rather than counting notes in public. Be wary of helpful strangers steering you to a “cheaper shop”.