Wholesale Markets in Nigeria and What Each Is Known For

Goods enter Nigerian trade from three directions: through the Lagos ports as imports, from factories and workshops in cities such as Lagos, Aba, Kano and Nnewi, and from farms across the middle belt and the north. The big markets grew up where those flows meet transport routes. Lagos handles the ports, Onitsha sits on the River Niger at the gateway to the south-east, Kano is the historic commercial capital of the north, Aba is a manufacturing town, and Ibadan collects farm produce from the south-west and beyond. Over time each market built a reputation for particular lines, and traders from every state now travel to the market that leads in their product, even when another market is closer. The markets are largely self-governing. Traders belong to market or line associations, which set rules, settle disputes and speak for members. Most selling is by negotiation, prices are rarely displayed, and the best terms go to buyers who are known, who buy regularly and who pay promptly. For a first-time buyer the practical lesson is simple: choose the market by product, go with a clear idea of current prices, and plan to build relationships over several visits instead of expecting the best price on day one.