Lagos vs Abuja vs Port Harcourt: Where Should You Sell?

Each Nigerian city has a distinct market. Here's what to know.

Lagos

Best for: Fashion, electronics, beauty products

  • Largest market — 20M+ consumers
  • Highest purchasing power
  • Fast delivery infrastructure
  • More competition, higher ad costs

Abuja

Best for: Real estate, premium goods, services

  • Government workers with stable income
  • Higher average spend per buyer
  • Less saturated than Lagos
  • Smaller but premium market

Port Harcourt

Best for: Oil & gas equipment, construction, luxury items

  • High-income oil workers
  • Premium on quality over price
  • Business-to-business opportunity
  • Smaller but high-value market

Other Strong Cities

  • Kano — largest northern market, textiles, agriculture
  • Ibadan — high volume, lower prices
  • Benin City — growing middle class
  • Enugu — Southeast hub

How to Choose

  1. Match your product to the city's strength
  2. Check competitor density
  3. Consider shipping costs
  4. Start with your own city, then expand