In Lagos, Nigeria, there are a amount of markets that attract a large amount of people for varied reasons. Some people go to these markets to buy items because of their relatively low prices while others prefer them for a potential shopping experience. Take for instance a small scale retailer based in one of the suburbs, he or she may visit these markets to buy bulk items from wholesalers in order to resell at lower prices at a more favorable time and place. If you as a retailer deal in Gsm products such as sim packs, movable phones, Gsm recharge cards and accessories the you will plainly visit a shop that has a large amount wholesalers dealing in such products. In Lagos Nigeria, such places comprise Computer village in Ikeja, parts of the Lagos island shop (Idumota) and one end of Saka Tinubu in Victoria Island. This of procedure is just an example as there are unlimited amount of products and services one could deal in.
Here is my list of popular markets in Lagos Nigeria and the Kind of products such markets deal in;
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1. Yaba also known as Tejuosho Market currently undergoing renewal it is one of the most modern markets in West Africa with standard facilities and infrastructure. Tejuosho shop is a densely populated market, with thousands of shopping units and tens of thousands of customers who patronize the businesses that are resident in the complex on a daily basis. Until 2007 when parts of the shop were gutted by fire, Tejuosho shop was perhaps the busiest shop in Lagos Nigeria after Idumota, Balogun, Oshodi, Alaba shop and seme markets.
2. Alaba International market. The so called largest electronics shop in Africa, Alaba international shop is home to the biggest dealers of electronic products in Nigeria. Many of the dealers are big time importers and distributors of electrical and electronic gadgets such as flat screen televisions, generators, home appliances especially refrigerators, fans, air conditioners, even Dvd sets, digital satellite dishes and decoders and many more. The shop is a beehive of activities on all days of the week except on Sundays when most of the traders go to church.
3. Computer village. Computer village as the name implies is a shop that deals primarily in the buying and selling of computers together with software and hardware, movable phones and their accessories. It is home to some of Nigeria's best phone and computer repair guys with many of them demonstrating grand skills in managing, maintaining and repairing phones, computer parts and other connected gadgets. Any way there is a draw back, this shop is also notorious for housing some people of questionable character such as touts, pirates, pick pockets and fraudsters. Any way the shop offers many benefits such as affordable prices and potential products but only where such products are purchased from reputable and authorized dealers.
4. Idumota. One of the oldest markets in Lagos Nigeria, this shop is the largest shop in West Africa and perhaps Africa with tens of thousands of lock up shops occupying varied buildings in the market. The distinct highlight about this shop is that it is made up of very many manifold storey buildings some measuring 5 or even more floors. Most of the shops are indubitably apartment rooms converted into shops. The shop is so big that as early as 6 am in the morning it is already recording large volume of transactions.
5. Balogun. Like the Idumota Market, Balogun shop is placed on the Lagos Island axis. It too is an old shop with very many lock up shops Any way unlike Idumota shop it has much fewer manifold storey buildings. Parts of this shop expand into Marina and Broad street (two of the busiest streets in the central business district of Lagos Nigeria).
6. Mile 12. This shop is popular for being the hotbed of farm produce and raw foods. Any vegetable or fruit that grows in tropical Africa except those that are alien to Nigerian soil can be found in this market. It is the cheapest shop for foodstuff especially vegetables, fruits and livestock other farm produce.
7. Mushin. Mushin shop is a shop known for having very cheap items when compared with other markets of Lagos Nigeria. The shop is both a wholesale and retail shop with almost every consumable startling ready for sale.
8. Oshodi. Known for its rowdiness and large size Oshodi shop is Nigeria's second largest shop after Idumota market. Up until early 2008, Oshodi was a no go area for many pedestrians and motorists as its roads were so jam packed that free flow of traffic was almost impossible. That is a thing of the past following the determination of the Lagos state government to rid the state of rowdiness, lawlessness and disorderliness. Prices of commodities in this shop are also relatively cheap.
9. Onyingbo (White sand). This shop placed in the mainland Yaba axis along with its sister shop at Iddo is a prime shop in that it serves as a transit point between Lagos and a amount of Northern states with foodstuff arriving from Northern Nigeria straight to it straight through Iddo. Although not as cheap as Ketu Market, oyingbo shop has a amount of affordable commodities in general foodstuff and livestock.
10. Alade shop in Ikeja. This shop is modern but not as unblemished as tejuosho. A amount of businesses mostly corporate services and retail shop control in the shop offering services such as travel and tour services, bureau de change, resale of consumables and even car hire services exist in this market. Things are relatively costly owing to its location (Allen Avenue) and presence to the international airport.
Some favorite Markets in Lagos, Nigeria