5 Lagos markets where foodstuffs are surprisingly cheaper

Food prices in Lagos continue to put pressure on household budgets. While supermarkets and small neighbourhood shops offer convenience, they often reflect higher costs driven by rent, logistics, and multiple layers of reselling. Traditional markets that operate as major supply and redistribution centres still provide better value for food buyers.

These markets remain affordable because of high turnover, access to bulk supplies, and their strategic locations within Lagos’s food distribution network.

Below are five Lagos markets where foodstuffs are cheaper, with each market’s location and key products woven into how they operate.

Mile 12 Market

Mile 12 Market is located in Kosofe Local Government Area, along Ikorodu Road, and is widely recognised as Lagos’s main gateway for fresh produce from northern Nigeria. Trucks arrive daily carrying tomatoes, peppers, onions, beans, and grains, making the market a critical link between northern farms and Lagos consumers.

The market is best known for tomatoes and peppers, which are often cheaper here than anywhere else in the city. Because many traders operate at wholesale level and aim to sell quickly to avoid spoilage, prices are competitive and negotiable. Even shoppers buying smaller quantities benefit from the sheer volume of supply and rapid turnover.

Oyingbo Market

Situated on the Lagos Mainland, close to Lagos Island, Oyingbo Market serves as a major food supply point for Island communities. Its location reduces transportation costs for traders moving goods into high-demand areas, which helps keep prices more stable than in smaller Island markets.

Oyingbo Market is known for fresh vegetables, spices, dried peppers, grains, smoked fish, and palm oil. It functions as both a wholesale and retail market, with large early morning sales to traders followed by retail activity later in the day. Buyers who shop early often get better prices before goods are broken down and resold.

Daleko Market

Daleko Market is located in Mushin Local Government Area and is widely regarded as Lagos’s main wholesale market for grains and dry food items. Many retailers across the city source their stock from Daleko before selling to end consumers at higher prices.

The market is especially known for rice, beans, maize, millet, sorghum, and groundnuts. Because most transactions happen in bulk, prices per unit are lower. Although Daleko primarily serves traders, individual shoppers can still save money by buying slightly larger quantities than usual or shopping alongside bulk buyers.

Iyana Iba Market

Iyana Iba Market is located in Ojo Local Government Area along the Badagry axis, an area that benefits from proximity to farming communities in Ogun State. This geographic advantage significantly reduces transportation costs for fresh produce entering the market.

The market is known for vegetables, cassava, plantain, maize, fruits, and other locally grown foodstuffs. Because much of the produce is sourced nearby, prices tend to be more stable and less affected by fuel or haulage costs. Iyana Iba is particularly popular with households seeking fresh food at lower prices without travelling to central Lagos.

Oshodi Market

Located in Oshodi–Isolo Local Government Area on the Lagos mainland, Oshodi Market sits at one of the city’s busiest transport junctions. This location makes it a natural entry and exit point for food supplies coming from different parts of the country. As a result, the market handles a wide range of foodstuffs daily.

Oshodi Market is known for its variety. Traders sell rice, beans, yam, garri, palm oil, vegetables, tomatoes, peppers, and dried foods in large volumes. The steady inflow of goods and the high number of sellers create strong competition, which keeps prices relatively low. For buyers, especially those shopping early in the morning, Oshodi offers both freshness and value.

Esther Emoekpere is a data analyst in the audience engagement department at BusinessDay, where she uses data to understand reader behaviour, spot unusual trends, and support the newsroom with insights that shape story performance. She holds a BSc in Statistics from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

She also with the BD Weekender team, where she covers a range of beats including profiles, food, lifestyle, restaurants, and fashion—creating stories shaped by audience interest and real-time engagement trends.

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